Romans Book Study

Paul,
a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to
be
an apostle, separated to the gospel of God…
Romans 1:1

Christ the Lord has come and is revealed to us in the four gospel
accounts. What was veiled and prefigured in the Old Testament is
revealed and realized in the New. After the gospel narratives, the
book of Acts is introduced. It shows the development of the church
from its infancy to the point where it was ready to replace Israel as
a light to the nations during Israel’s second exile.

In the book of Acts, an immense amount of information and structure
is given to show us how things transition from the early Jewish
church to the predominantly gentile church which would carry the
spiritual banner of the message of Jesus Christ for the next 2000
years. As incredible as it seems, this handing over the banner to the
gentiles was prophesied in the blessing Noah pronounced upon his sons
Shem and Japheth in Genesis 9:26, 27.

Acts begins in Jerusalem and Peter is the main focus of chapters
1-12. Acts ends in Rome and Paul is the main focus of chapters 13-28.
Within these parallel divisions are underlying parallels which show
the banner being passed and it is necessary to show them in order to
understand the significance of what is coming in Paul’s epistles –

Act/Chapter

1. Peter’s work began by the Holy Spirit (2)

1. Paul’s work began by the Holy Spirit (13)

2. Peter was thought to be drunk and & then explains himself (2)

2. Paul was thought to be mad and then explains himself (26)

3. Peter’s first sermon begins new section of book (2)

3. Paul’s first sermon begins new section of book (13)

4. Peter has a time of work, preaching, and then persecution (2-11)

4. Paul has a time of work, preaching, and then persecution (13-19)

5. Peter has trouble after healing a man lame from birth (3)

5. Paul has trouble after healing a man lame from birth (14)

6. Peter says, “Silver and gold have I none” (3)

6. Paul says, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold” (20)

7. Peter’s shadow heals (5)

7. Paul’s handkerchief heals (19)

8. Peter is arrested in the temple and taken to Sanhedrin (4, 5)

8. Paul is arrested in the temple and taken to Sanhedrin (21-23)

9. Peter confronts Simon the sorcerer (8)

9. Paul confronts Elymas the sorcerer (13)

10. Peter performs an exorcism (5)

10. Paul performs an exorcism (16)

11. Peter raises Tabitha from the dead (9)

11. Paul raises Eutychus from the dead (20)

12. Peter lays hands for reception of Spirit (8)

12. Paul lays hands for reception of Spirit (19)

13. Peter worshipped (10)

13. Paul worshipped (14)

14. Peter imprisoned with miraculous escape (12)

14. Paul imprisoned with miraculous escape (16)

15. Angel stood by Peter (12)

15. Angel stood by Paul (27)

16. Peter called by vision to preach in Caesarea (10)

16. Paul called by vision to preach in Macedonia (16)

17. Peter’s success brings Jewish jealousy (5)

17. Paul’s success brings Jewish jealousy (13)

18. Peter heals the bedridden Aeneas (9)

18. Paul heals the bedridden father of Publius (28)

19. Peter ordains deacons (6)

19. Paul ordains elders (14)

20. Peter is “filled with the Spirit” (4)

20. Paul is “filled with the Spirit” (13)

Along with these many parallels, Paul will state in his writings four
times that he is the Apostle to the Gentiles and twice that Peter is
the Apostle to the Jews. This then is the significance of these
parallels. They are highlighted for our understanding of the immense
importance of Paul’s 13 epistles – Romans to Philemon. He is the
instructor of the church which has been led by the sons of Japheth
since the exile of Israel in AD70.

To dismiss Paul and his writings then is to reject church doctrine
and thus there is no cohesion to the Christian message. This has
increasingly been the case in the past 150 years or so as the church
has become more liberal and turned from Paul in an attempt to be more
“tolerant” and less firm on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Acts ends in Rome, it is fitting that God established the order of
the epistles beginning with Romans. This is the “constitution of
Christianity” and it gives wonderfully valuable insights into the
Person and work of Jesus Christ and it also gives important
information concerning the times when Israel will again carry the
spiritual banner of God’s message. To misunderstand Paul’s words
in Chapters 9-11 leads to a “spiritualization” of much of the Old
Testament. These unfulfilled Old Testament passages will be realized
in Israel of the future, not the church.

The book of Romans has 433 verses and so it will take more than a
year to complete. When we are finished, hopefully we will have a much
fuller understanding of the glory of what God has done for us in the
Person of Jesus Christ.

Although
this is a long introduction so far, we could actually go on for much,
much longer and still not glean all that is necessary to understand
what is coming. However, to get to verse 1, we must move on. Here in
verse 1 Paul introduces himself using four terms – bondservant,
called, apostle, and separated. Two of these terms describe his state
before the Lord – bondservant and apostle. The other two are how
that state came about – he was called and separated.

Paul’s original name was Saul, however, in the book of Acts we see
the transition of his name from Saul to Paul. Paul means “small”
and he is actually prefigured all the way back in the account of the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah when Lot fled to a town call Zoar.
God selected Paul and placed hints of him in Genesis to show us what
He would do through this wonderful and hardy soul.

As “‘a bondservant’ of Jesus Christ” he is a slave, belonging
to Him entirely and he merits no payment for his duties. His calling
by the Lord was as an apostle – a sent one; a chosen messenger. And
finally he was “separated to the gospel of God.” He was
consecrated to be a herald of this message and as the book of acts
and his personal writings reveal, he conducted his duties in a manner
which brought great honor to his Lord. He performed his duties well.

Heavenly
Father, we have started on a great adventure and we ask that You be
with us, guide us, and keep us from straying from the intent and
purpose that You have desired for us as we consider this beautiful
book, Romans. Thank You Lord for Your hand of instruction and your
Spirit of wisdom upon us during our journey! Amen.

…which
He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,…
Romans 1:2

Paul builds upon yesterday’s verse and will continue to do so after
this one and therefore we will continue a full quote to keep proper
context –

“Paul,
a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to
be an apostle, separated to the
gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures,…”

“Which He promised before” is speaking of the “gospel of God”
and is therefore relating back to Paul’s status as “a bondservant
of Christ” and his calling as an apostle. We have to remember as we
read the New Testament, that there was no New Testament until it was
written. Therefore, the promise came from the Old Testament. That
which was given “before” is what Paul is speaking of and it came
“through His prophets.”

Nowhere in the Bible will we find this thought contradicted and many
times it will be supported. Two important verses to understand divine
inspiration are –

All
Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

…knowing
this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy
men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy
Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20, 21

Memorizing these verses is recommended, or at least memorizing their
location. The Bible was received, in its entirety, by inspiration of
the Holy Spirit. It is therefore God’s word to mankind and thus
there can be no other truly “holy” books. Any other religious or
philosophical texts may have value, but none are authoritative when
speaking of the things of God. The gospel message, which was
anticipated in the Old Testament, stands as God’s plan of salvation
to the people of the world.

Lord
Jesus, Your word speaks of You and Your glory. Help us to read it,
study it, cherish it, and live by it all the days of our lives. Give
us the strong will and desire to share it with others as well. May
You favor our studies and bless us as we seek Your glorious face
through it. To Your honor and glory we pray this. Amen.

…concerning
His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David
according to the flesh,…
Romans 1:3

Again, to ensure context, we quote the entire thought thus far –

“Paul,
a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to
be an apostle, separated to the
gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was
born of the seed of David according to the flesh,…”

Paul is establishing his baseline for the entire epistle and he is
doing it in a way that no one except a fool or someone who comes to
the text with presuppositions could miss. Paul is a herald of the
“gospel of God” of which all of the prophets and the Scriptures
testify and which concerns “His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” If
all of Scripture testifies to this One, then He is the focus of all
that God is doing through redemptive history and therefore He is the
Lord – Jesus is “Jehovah” of the Old Testament revealed in His
fullness in the New.

Paul’s explanation of Jesus begins with the fact that He is God’s
Son. This will be explained and clarified in the time ahead. Son-ship
can come through procreation or adoption, but we get a hint at where
Paul is leading with his next thought – Jesus “was born of the
seed of David according to the flesh.” This then tells us, as the
gospels, Acts, and surely the entire Bible tells us, that Jesus was
born into the stream of humanity. “Of the seed of David” ensures
that we understand He is the fulfillment of all of the Messianic
promises. These include everything from Genesis 3:15, through
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah. David was the final peg in the line
of promises and it is through His house that the realization of these
promises would come about. We read of the Lord’s promise to David
in 2 Samuel –

““When
your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up
your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will
establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father,
and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him
with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My
mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it
from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your
kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be
established forever.”’” 2 Samuel 7:12-16

Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophesies and
promises just as Paul notes in this early verse. Noting this
establishes the coming context of the epistle.

What
an amazing and beautiful treasure Your word is, O God. It is woven
together so beautifully and with such excellence that we can only
look into its pages with awe and wonderment. Glory to You in the
highest for the wonder revealed in its pages! Amen.

…and
declared to
be
the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead. Romans
1:4

Paul completes the opening portion of his statement which comes prior
to naming the addressees of his letter. To ensure context let us
quote the entire thought –

“Paul,
a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to
be an apostle, separated to the
gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was
born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and
declared to be
the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead.”

This final portion states that Jesus Christ is “declared to be the
Son of God…by the resurrection of the dead.” This has wrongly led
to the belief and occasional teaching that Jesus was only officially
declared to be God’s Son because of the resurrection. This is not
Paul’s intent here. Jesus is hinted as the Son of God even in the
Old Testament and explicitly noted as such throughout the gospel
accounts.

What this is stating is that the resurrection is the sure proof of
the fact. His conception by the Holy Spirit in a virgin’s womb is
all that is needed to assure us that Jesus is the God/Man. However,
His resurrection proves it. Here are the necessary points and two
syllogisms which work backward from the resurrection to demonstrate
this –

Adam sinned and through him all have received his fallen state. The
Bible treats this as an axiom. We are, as Jesus said in John 3:18
“condemned already.” Sin transfers through the man, but not
through the woman (symbolized by the rite of circumcision – cutting
away the sin nature). Thus there was a need for a man to born of a
woman, but not of a man. This was hinted at in Genesis 3:15. This Man
is Jesus.

Jesus was born of God and Mary and therefore He was born without
inheriting Adam’s sin. And yet He is fully human. The resurrection
is 100% conditional upon the virgin birth. No virgin birth equals no
resurrection because inherited sin would disqualify that. This is why
babies don’t resurrect even though they have never committed
intentional sin.

However, the virgin birth doesn’t guarantee the resurrection. Nor
does living a sinless life if one isn’t virgin born. Both the
virgin birth and a sinless life are conditions for the resurrection.
If Jesus wasn’t born of a virgin, then He would have inherited
Adam’s sin. But even if He was born of a virgin, He would still
need to live perfectly sinless throughout His entire life.

1) The resurrection is conditional upon a sinless life.

A sinless life is conditional upon the virgin birth.

Therefore, the resurrection proves the virgin birth.

2) The resurrection proves the virgin birth.

The virgin birth proves Jesus was born of God and of Mary.

Therefore, Jesus is God’s Son – the God/Man.

The resurrection is the definitive declaration that Jesus Christ is
“the Son of God with power.”

Within this verse is also the note that this is “according to the
Spirit of holiness.” This is probably speaking of the fact that
Jesus is both divine and human rather than of the Holy Spirit. His
divine nature, perfectly demonstrated in His sinless humanity,
resulted in the resurrection. Either way, because both Jesus and the
Holy Spirit are fully God, the end result comes out the same. Within
the Godhead, Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity.
Therefore His Spirit is divine and the Holy Spirit testifies to this.

What
a glorious mystery is revealed in the Person of Jesus, O God. How
wonderful it is to contemplate and search out these mysteries in Your
word and to come to an understanding of who You are and what You have
done through Him! Great and awesome are You! Amen.

Through
Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith
among all nations for His name…
Romans 1:5

“Through Him” is speaking of Jesus – the One born of the seed
of David as a human being and who is “the Son of God with power
according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the
dead.” It is through this God/Man that Paul has “received grace.”
Grace is unmerited divine assistance which is given to us and which
will carry us through every need and step of our spiritual life in
Christ. It is a virtue which comes externally from God and without
our assistance. It cannot be earned because it is unmerited. This is
the heart of the gospel message. What we can’t do for ourselves,
God did for us through His Son.

Paul also states he received “apostleship.” It must be understood
that this letter is written from Paul as an apostle to those who are
“the called of Jesus Christ” (v 6) and “saints” (v 7). He is
not stating that we are all apostles. Apostleship is a commission and
is designated for a certain group of people at a certain time in
redemptive history; sometimes called the “apostolic age.”

Jesus founded His church and anointed a group of men to establish it
and then to receive and retransmit His message, which is the Holy
Bible. The apostolic age ended with the sealing of the book of
Revelation, because the purpose of the age ended at that time. Far
too often, people attempt to claim titles to which they have no
right. Such is the case with the title of “apostle.”

Paul
continues by stating that he and those so commissioned have received
this grace and their apostleship “for obedience to the faith among
all the nations for His name…” Obedience to the faith is the
gospel message, not the works associated with it but the very basis
for any works – belief.

The gospel is one of faith which comes by grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
The calling comes first and it is united with faith. Only then is a
title bestowed. In Paul’s case, he is an apostle. The designation
came after salvation not before, and therefore his commitment to the
gospel message preceded his commitment to carry out the task of
proclaiming it.

This is the logical progression for each person who is called. The
grace is given, the faith is exercised, the title is granted, and the
carrying out of the task is conducted. Far too often, the logical
progression is violated and therefore confusion or cunning takes
over. How many carry out the task without the calling? How many claim
the calling without the faith? How many claim the faith without
having received the grace?

If we follow the logical and necessary steps of the faith, we will
keep from straying and our doctrine will be pure. It is “obedience
to the faith” which will bring honor to Christ. Let us not skip
steps or run ahead without the proper foundation lest we bring
reproach upon the glorious name of our Lord.

Lord
Jesus, You have offered us Your grace. Now help us to accept it by
faith and receive Son-ship in Christ. Then O Lord, spur us on to
great deeds for Your name’s sake and for Your glory. Be with us
each step of the way and help us to be faithful and enduring
witnesses to Your glory and the truth of Your gospel message. Amen.

…among
whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;…
Romans 1:6

For context, we will cite the entire thought thus far – “Through
Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith
among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of
Jesus Christ;…”

As you can see now, Paul has drawn a distinction between his calling
which was the same as the other apostles and those whom he is
addressing in Rome. “Among all nations” includes the Roman
addressees. Paul’s calling is one of an apostle to witness the work
of Christ to others. Those others are counted among the “called of
Jesus Christ.”

The
word for “called” is kletoi
and is a general term. Paul uses it for himself in verse 1 concerning
his apostleship. Jesus uses the term in Matthew 20:16 when He said
“…many are called, but few chosen.” In direct reference to
today’s verse, Paul is saying that the recipients are the called.
However, there were certainly many in Rome at the time who read the
letter who weren’t Christians and there have been jillions since
then who have read the book and are not saved believers.

The
idea then is that the offer is given and anyone can accept it, but
not all choose to. Those who do are “the called of Jesus Christ.”
As Paul will show us later concerning those from Israel who don’t
believe – “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah
says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:16, 17

Are you among the called? If you have heard the word, be sure to let
it sink in and then respond to it. Eternity awaits.

Heavenly
Father, thank You for the offer of salvation through Jesus! And thank
You for offering it until we receive it. Not all accept it the first
time they hear it and yet they later come to do so. And so, right
now, I would like to pray for all those I know who have yet to make
the commitment to this wonderful Lord. Please stir up their hearts
unto salvation. Amen.

To
all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to
be
saints:

Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7

With
this verse we move into a new section of Paul’s letter. “To all
who are in Rome” is speaking of the congregation specifically, not
the city in general. As Paul says when speaking of his people Israel
in Chapter 9, so can be said of the addressees in the letter – “For
they are
not all Israel who are
of Israel, nor are
they all children because they are
the seed of Abraham.”

The same thought applies here – “Not all who are in Rome are of
the ‘beloved of God’ nor are they all ‘called to be saints”
because they live in Rome.”

The
reason we note this is because the church is an exclusive called out
group of people in the world and not all, despite the common usage of
the term, are “God’s children.” When Paul says these believers
are “beloved of God” he uses the term agapetois
theo meaning literally “God’s
love ones.” It is these who are “called to be saints.” The
relationship – the calling – is offered by God and it is accepted
by man. From that moment believers are set apart as holy and this is
where the emphasis lies. Whereas we were once at enmity with God,
there is now felicity and God sets His called ones apart from the
world.

Next
Paul gives what will become a standard greeting in his epistles,
“Grace to you and peace to you.” Grace is unmerited favor which
cannot be earned. This is a common greeting among the Greek people.
Peace however is a common greeting among the Hebrew people. In their
language, the word is shalom.
This is more than a greeting for calm or quiet, but is a state of
wholeness and completion in all ways. Paul unites the two terms just
as the church is being united between Jew and Gentile during his
time. Grace precedes peace because only after receiving the grace of
God can a person experience the peace of God.

Paul extends this wonderful blessing on behalf of “God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is a greeting from the eternal God –
both the unseen Father and His Son who reveals the Father to us.
Throughout Paul’s letters, as with the entire Bible, the deity of
Jesus Christ is a concept and a precept which simply can’t be
missed. It is the very heart of what God has done for the
reconciliation of the people of the world.

In these seven opening verses enough theology has been presented to
open the minds of the people of the world to the immensity of the
work of God through Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of

1) The surety of the gospel as was revealed through the Old Testament
prophets,

2) The inspiration of Scripture because of this surety,

3) The Son-ship of Jesus Christ,

4) The Lordship of Jesus Christ,

5) The humanity of Jesus Christ,

6) The deity of Jesus Christ,

7) The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

8) The unmerited favor and placement of those who have called on
Jesus Christ,

9) And an introduction into the nature of the Godhead by indicating
the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.

In all, these seven opening verses are a storehouse of theological
wealth for the saints of God to ponder.

Lord
Jesus, not a word is wasted in the pages of Your Holy Bible. Every
detail is given to lead us to an understanding of You and how You
have revealed Yourself to us. Help us to never rush through its
pages, but to ponder and cherish each word. Your word is more
nourishing to us than the food we eat. Thank You for Your word. Amen.

First,
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is
spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 1:8

After his greeting, Paul begins the main portion of the epistle with
the word “first.” There will be in Romans, as in all of Paul’s
writings, a logical sequence of thought and an articulate
presentation of his arguments. As he is writing under inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, everything he will say is the absolute truth in how
things are in relation to God. We may disagree, but we are only
disagreeing with God. We may interpret doctrinal points differently,
but in the end there is only one correct interpretation. Therefore,
as with the entire Bible, a careful analysis is required.

Paul’s first thought is to “thank my God through Jesus Christ.”
As intolerant as it may sound, there is only one path to God, and
that is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6) and there is only one
Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). No prayer
to God is acceptable which has not gone through Him. No thanks to or
praise of God is effective unless it is directed through Him. And so
Paul gives his thanks to God through Jesus on behalf of the believers
in Rome. And it is a thanks grounded in the knowledge of their great
faith, a faith “spoken of throughout the whole world.”

Although the reason for their faith being so widely disseminated
isn’t directly stated, the content of the epistle certainly
indicates some of the reasons. Paul will speak on immorality and it
is probable that the believers were either mocked or held in esteem
for holding a moral stand. He will also speak on God’s judgment,
man’s fallen nature and unrighteousness, and etc. Any of these
issues could be the basis for the recognition of their faith by the
world’s people.

What Paul will do is logically defend our responsibilities and
obligations towards God, both from His general revelation of Himself
through nature as well as through His specific revelation of Himself
through the Bible and through Jesus. As humans, particularly in our
post-modern society, we may find Paul’s words out of touch, but God
doesn’t. What is presented in this epistle reflects God’s
standards and we ignore them or attempt to diminish them at our own
peril.

Heavenly
Father, give us hearts willing to accept Your precepts without
diminishing them in any way. Help us then to stand firm on them even
if we are mocked or receive physical harm for them. Your word is
truth, therefore give us the moral rectitude to stand on it without
wavering. To Your honor and glory this prayer is made. Amen.

For
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His
Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my
prayers,… Romans 1:9

Paul
draws God in as his witness for his thoughts in the next two verses.
What he is going to convey then is the absolute truth. His vow is
before God “whom I serve with my spirit.” The word Paul uses for
“spirit” is pneumati.
As he writes throughout his epistles, he consistently and carefully
makes a distinction, and even a contrast, between the “spirit”
and the “soul.” To Paul, the demarcation is absolutely clear. The
spirit of a person, the pneuma,
is not the same as the soul which is the term psuche.
To him it is the difference between the spiritual life of the person
and the natural/physical life of the person.

It’s important to understand the nature of humanity as the Bible
presents it though to fully understand and define what Paul is
speaking of. Humans are a soul with a body. The two are united and
are incomplete without the other. Paul assures us of this in 2
Corinthians 5:1-3 –

“For
we know that if our earthly house, this
tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if
indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.”

In
these verses, he calls the soul without a body “naked.” This
concept is known as anthropological hylomorphism – man is a
soul/body unity. The natural man is a soul united with a body whether
connected to God or not. This is similar to an animal. There is a
body and a life force which propels that body but not necessarily a
spiritual aspect. The “spirit” (pneuma)
Paul is speaking of is the spiritual connection between God and man;
it is that part of the man which is intimately connected to God.

Paul says that God, whom he serves with his spirit is “in the
gospel of His Son.” The gospel is a spiritual force then. And of
course this is so. In Ephesians 2:4, 5 Paul writes this –

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with
which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…”

As you can see, a living person (a soul/body unity) can still be
“dead.” What is needed is the regeneration which comes through
the gospel message. When this is received, the spirit is made alive.
We are now reconnected to God through the gospel – our soul/body
unity is as God intended for us. Got it? Good stuff.

It is in this quickened state that Paul “without ceasing”
remembers those in Rome in his prayers. Does this mean that Paul
didn’t eat, write letters, sleep, or do other activities which
would keep him from praying for them? No. Rather, his life was lived
in a constant state of prayer which occurred at any given moment. He
could pray while doing any of these things or not pray while doing
them and not be found a liar. He, like each of us, should live in
such a way that we are always connected to God. If we are, then we
will simply pray as things which need prayer come to mind.

A good example of this connection is explicitly stated by Paul in 1
Thessalonians 5:16-21 –

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench
the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast
what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

The verbs here indicate that these things should be done now, that
they are crucial to our spiritual life, and that we are to be active
in pursuing them. This is the state Paul tells us we should live in
because it is the state he lived in and which he knew was pleasing to
God.

Lord,
I know that I was once blind but now I see. I know that I was once
dead, but You quickened me to life. I know that through Your gospel I
have all I need to live in the spirit and to be pleasing to You at
all times. Help me to live the life that I should because of the gift
I received through Jesus. Let me not squander my Christian life, but
live it to the fullest! Amen.

…
making request if, by some means, now at last I may
find a way in the will of God to come to you.
Romans 1:10

The previous verse said “without ceasing I make mention of you
always in my prayers.” The prayers are what lead to Paul’s
request in this verse - that he would be able to make a personal
visit to those in Rome. “If by some means” indicates his
tremendous desire to be there with them.

To Paul, it didn’t matter how it came about so much as that it
would happen. In the book of Acts, it is seen that he did make it to
Rome after being accused and imprisoned while in the land of Israel
and then being taken on a long, disaster-fraught journey by ship to
Italy and then up the peninsula to Rome. He prayed “if by some
means” and the petition was eventually granted in a most remarkable
and well documented way.

In his request, he also notes that if the trip to Rome is possible,
that it be “in the will of God.” Paul could have simply gotten on
a ship or taken one of the roads which led to Rome and been there in
a short amount of time. But he understood that his was a ministry of
obedience to his calling and that what he did needed to be within the
will of God and not because of his own desires.

If and until the time selected by God arose, he was determined to
continue with the ministry as the Lord directed. This is clearly seen
in chapter 15 of Romans where he writes this –

“And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where
Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,
but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall
see; And those who have not heard shall understand.” For this
reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no
longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these
many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come
to you.” Romans 15:20-23

Paul gave the reason he was hindered from going to Rome – “To
preach the gospel, not where Christ was named…” However, his
ministry and goals to that end were being realized and so he planned
on going as far as Spain to proclaim the gospel there. On the way, it
was his intent to visit his beloved brethren in Rome.

What should be noted above all in this desire of Paul is that his
intent in Rome was to share in Christ, not sightsee. Rome was the
center of the world as far as things were concerned. There was
royalty, pomp, wealth, and a million things a visitor could do and
see. And yet Paul’s desire was one of fellowship, teaching, and
building up of the church, not taking in the splendor of the city.

Is this your heart’s desire? How many of us go on short-term
missionary journeys in order to see the world or to visit an
interesting location? Our intent and goal should be one of service,
not self-satisfaction. Let us remember this and pray that our goals
are in line with His good news.

Heavenly
Father, give me a willing heart to share the good news of Jesus
wherever I am and at anytime. And please also give me the heart and
desire to fellowship with other believers as I go through this walk
of life. I ask these things that You will be glorified through my
life and conduct. Amen.

For
I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so
that you may be established—
Romans 1:11

Again we note that it is Paul’s desire to see the believers in Rome
and not the city itself. He was far less interested in the splendor
of the buildings, the pomp of those who govern, or the wealth of the
commerce and trade and far more interested in the establishment of
the faith of those who were called saints.

Of particular interest and purpose was that he would be there to
“impart some spiritual gift” to the church. There are two main
views on this statement –

1) The first is that this “spiritual gift” was an extraordinary
apostolic gift such as speaking in tongues, healing, future prophecy,
etc. Within this view we will note two sub-categories.

a) Once received the miraculous gift would be established and could
then be passed on, such as charismatic churches believe is the case
today.

b) This gift was given by Paul because he was an apostle and would be
to validate his apostolic office and help solidify their faith in the
gospel. Beyond Paul, the gift couldn’t be transferred because such
gifts were given to and through the apostles only.

2) The second main view is that this “spiritual gift” wasn’t a
miraculous gift at all.

The second option is certainly the correct analysis. To assume that
Paul was going to give them a miraculous gift to establish or
solidify their saving faith is contrary to the gospel message. It is
also a forced, unnatural reading of the intent, which will be
explained completely in the second half of the thought (verse 12.)

Paul
uses the term ti
metado charisma “some that I may
impart gift” which is certainly a general gift of edification such
as instruction. His intent is to give it just as he is doing with his
letter, but in person. There is no other instance elsewhere in Paul’s
writings where the words he uses in this verse denote the giving of a
miraculous gift.

Paul was a builder of faith and an instructor in the gospel. He was
given the gifts of an apostle, but he wasn’t one to wield them in a
showy manner, nor use them as a point of impressing others (1
Corinthians 14:20). Paul’s ideas of spiritual gifts for the
building up of the body in Rome are listed in chapter 12 and they fit
the sound and established criteria of organizational development, not
the unwieldy foundation of the sensational.

When we as believers put our trust in, or base our faith on, outward
demonstrations of spiritual gifts we have an unsound foundation. The
word of God, the Holy Bible, is what tells us of Jesus as spoken
through the prophets and apostles. This is where the basis of strong
faith should be realized.

Heavenly
Father, give me strong and sound faith in the word which You have
delivered to Your people in the pages of the Bible. Help me to
understand it and think clearly about what is presented there so that
I may be built up in my faith. I ask this that our relationship will
be grounded and sure. Thank You for Your word which tells me of
Jesus. Amen.

…that
is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me. Romans
1:12

Here is Paul’s complete thought for reference – “For I long to
see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you
may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with
you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

As noted in the previous verse, the “spiritual gift” he desired
to impart was most likely not a miraculous gift. Instead, he desired
to impart a gift that they “may be established.” This is sure
because these were already believers and therefore a miraculous sign
wouldn’t get them any more “saved.” Therefore, the verse isn’t
speaking of establishment in this sense, but rather grounding in the
salvation they already possessed.

In 1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul tells us the purpose of miraculous signs
– “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but
to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those
who believe.” Paul is writing to believers in Rome.

To confirm that this wasn’t the imparting of such a gift, Paul
completes the thought with verse 12 by stating first “that is.”
This term is a conjunction tying verse 11 with verse 12. Paul is
directly connecting “that you may be established” with “that I
may be encouraged together with you.”

As and apostle, Paul didn’t need a miraculous sign to be encouraged
and it would make no sense to attempt to be encouraged by a sign
which he was bestowing. Instead, he is speaking of a spiritual gift
of edification for the building up of their faith; a spoken epistle
to compliment the written one.

Such a spoken message would accomplish exactly what he desired “by
the mutual faith of both you and me.” He is quite clear that they
have the faith already, just as he does and he is hoping to add to
that faith so that they will be productive, competent followers of
Jesus.

In his second letter, Peter describes exactly what believers should
do after exercising their initial faith. It is surely this thought,
not an outward demonstration of the miraculous, that Paul is speaking
of –

“But
also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to
self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these
things are yours and abound, you
will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Lord,
I would pray that You so establish my faith that I would never
attempt to rely on an outward sign, but rather on the inward
knowledge and surety of Your word. Help me to think clearly
concerning what You have given us there and to trust that it is fully
sufficient for my growth in You. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Now
I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to
come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some
fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
Romans 1:13

Here Paul defends that it was his intention to come to Rome earlier
and that he hasn’t simply ignored the believers there. We’ve
already seen that he is fully aware of the faith of those in Rome (v.
8); that he is constantly in prayer for them (v. 9); that those
prayers included a requested way for him to visit Rome (v. 10); and
that his intent was to build them up and thus be encouraged together
with them in their mutual faith (v. 11).

Because of this sequence of thought, he lets them know that his heart
for joining with them is honest and that his plans have included a
visit to them all along. However, he has been “hindered until now.”
This is Paul’s way of telling them that he has been following a set
course of action which simply wouldn’t allow him to venture to
Rome. This was explained in our analysis of verse 10 which took us to
Romans 15 to understand why.

The next thing Paul tells us is the reason for his desire to visit
those in Rome – “that I might have some fruit among you also,
just as among the other Gentiles.” Putting everything together, we
see that the reason for him being hindered from joining them was
because he desired to “bear fruit” for the sake of the Gospel.
However, his greatest desire was to “preach the gospel, not where
Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation.”
(15:20). Therefore, because Christ was already known in Rome, it
would be contradictory to his modus operandi to go there.

Now however (as Romans 15 goes on to explain) this will no longer be
a hindrance and therefore his ability will be joined to his desire.
We can look at Paul’s example and learn from it. Often we put our
desires above our set goals and those goals then suffer because of
it. This lesson is particularly important in matters pertaining to
the faith and therefore we need to determine at the outset that we
will let nothing hinder the goals we set. By doing so, we show that
the ministry and gospel of Jesus is more important than the temporary
things our eyes alight upon.

Heavenly
Father, You have given us the ultimate example of determination in
our Lord Jesus. Along with Him we see many examples of how to
exercise our priorities properly through your prophets and apostles.
Help us to reflect on such things and to take them to heart. In the
end, what we desire is far less important than what You proclaim.
Help us to remember this lesson. Amen.

I
am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to
unwise. Romans 1:14

This verse is a tie between the previous verses which spoke of Paul’s
desire to come to Rome and the following three verses which lay the
foundation for an intense discourse on the nature of fallen man in
relation to the holy God and Creator.

Paul says that he is a “debtor to Greeks and barbarians.” The
term debtor speaks of one bound in the performance of their duties or
by an obligation. The distinction between Greeks and barbarians is
noted and would be similar to today’s thought of those in the
“first world” and those in the “third world.” Greeks were the
developers of a great and intellectual culture and therefore to them,
everyone else was a lower class. The term “barbarians” is
reflective of everyone who didn’t participate in the Greek culture
and speak the language. It comes from the sounds of non-Greek
speakers “bar bar” or gibberish.

Paul claimed to be a debtor to both the high class and the low class.
To him, there was only the saved and the lost and he wanted to
convert as many as possible. The second distinction – the “wise
and the unwise” is similar in concept because the message of the
gospel cuts through the most intellectual argument and crushes the
most inane. A hint of this is to be seen in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 –

“Let
no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this
age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches
the wise in their own
craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are futile.”

Paul clearly understood this, as we all should and he therefore
proclaimed the gospel in any and every way to save as many as he
could. He spoke the gospel to King Agrippa and he spoke the gospel to
the slave Onesimus. He spoke it at the Areopagus to the
intellectually elite, and he spoke it to tradesmen and prisoners. He
spoke of Jesus to Jew and he spoke of Him to gentiles. In 1
Corinthians 9, he sums up his audience for us –

“For
though I am free from all men,
I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and
to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who
are under the law, as under the
law, that I might win those who
are under the law; to those who
are without law, as without law
(not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that
I might win those who
are without law; to the weak I
became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things
to all men,
that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s
sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
(19-23)

Life application: Let each of us be willing to speak the gospel
message to any and all people in the manner which they are
comfortable. We should use simple words to the uneducated and to
children, but we should be capable of adjusting our words up when
speaking to those of higher education. We need to be ready and
willing to communicate properly and effectively to people of all of
life’s stations about the exceedingly rich glory of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.

Heavenly
Father, You have created me as I am. Some people are smarter than me
and others are less intelligent. Help me to be wise in how I approach
each person so that I make the best of each opportunity laid before
me. Just as Paul spoke according to the understanding of his hearer,
help me to do so as well. Amen.

So,
as much as is in me, I
am
ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
Romans 1:15

There are very few that truly mean what Paul states here, but when we
see them, we can tell almost immediately what sort of person they
are. “As much as is in me” means that with every fiber of his
being and every calorie he has taken in... he will expend it all for
the calling to which he’s been called to. This then reflects as
much on the Lord as it does on Paul. Whatever the Lord gives to him,
this is what he will return to the Lord. We know that Paul had a
“thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) which hindered him in
some way.

This thorn may have been failing eyesight. In Acts, Paul speaks
harshly to the high priest without knowing it was him even though
they were standing in the same room (Acts 23:1-5). In the book of
Galatians, he noted that at one time the congregation would have
gladly plucked out their own eyes and given them to him (4:15). And
his letters were very distinct because of the unusually large letters
he used, an indication of poor eyesight (Galatians 6:11).

Whether this “thorn in the flesh” was his failing eyesight or
something else entirely, it was a limitation placed on him to keep
him reliant on the grace of the Lord and not to trust in himself.
Therefore, his ability to proclaim the gospel was both by Jesus’
grace and in accord with his care of the opportunities and abilities
that he had been given. This is the life of Paul and one to which we
have been called, if we will only respond. Time truly is fleeting and
each moment can only be used in one way before it is gone.

For Paul, he was always “ready to preach the gospel.” There is no
other message which can bring salvation and there is no other path to
God. Paul understood the immensity of this and therefore he used
everything he was and every gift he possessed to spread the message.
And his intent for the days ahead was to do so for those “who are
in Rome also.”

He was a man on a determined course as the Bible bears witness. He
was reviled for his preaching, he was stoned for his testimony, he
was mocked and jeered for proclaiming the truth, he was imprisoned
several times, and eventually history tells us that he was martyred
for his Lord. Is this what we are also willing to face? Each of us
will stand before the throne of Christ’s glory and give an
accounting for our time and gifts and so let us be ready to face Him
with a life that was full of love, faith, and service to His name.

Lord
Jesus, I ask for the same heart which you instilled in Paul. Give me
the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to serve you with so
much as is in me that You will be honored and glorified through my
actions. How I love You and wish to see you receive the praise You
are due from the people of the world. Amen.

For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. Romans 1:16

In
the Greek, Paul begins with the word “not” – ou
gar epaischunomai” – “Not
for I am ashamed of…” In other words, what begins with a negative
is the most positive statement of his life, belief, and actions.
“For” refers to what he has just said about being ready “as
much as is in me” to preach the gospel. He was willing to expend
himself to the very end for the sake of this good news.

“I am not ashamed” is a theme throughout his writings and tells
us that what he is proclaiming certainly seems ridiculous and even
ignominious to the world or there would be no reason to be ashamed.
People feel shame over making mistakes. We feel ashamed when we are
caught doing something we shouldn’t do. We feel ashamed when we are
found naked. We feel shame when we don’t measure up in one way or
another. Shame is something that is tied to that which is regarded as
disgraceful or dishonorable and Paul looked around him and saw that
the world perceived his life and actions in this way. In 1
Corinthians 4:12, 13 he cites his perceptions of how he was seen –

“Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being
defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the
offscouring of all things until now.”

Despite this, he was completely unashamed of his life and conduct
because they centered on “the gospel of Christ.” This is the good
news. It is the message of salvation to a world of lost people who
are destined for hell. Paul understood that without this message,
there is only a moment of existence which ends in death and
condemnation. There is no other way out of this and therefore this
message is of paramount importance to the people of the world.

He then specifically explains this gospel message by telling us that
“it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ contains the power to bring the dead to
life, to quicken the spirit of man which died when Adam sinned. And
being “the power of God” means that it is completely effectual in
its ability to do so. God is the Creator and therefore there is no
other power greater than He. If the gospel is the “power of God”
for this purpose, then nothing can thwart it and its results will be
complete in all ways. This is evidenced by Ephesians 1:13, 14 –

“In
Him you also trusted,
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in
whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Trust
is placed in Jesus and the Holy Spirit then seals the believer as a
“guarantee.” Therefore what God has determined cannot be thwarted
again by man’s actions. It is an eternal and unchangeable decision
lest God be found to have erred. This is the “power of God to
salvation” that Paul writes about and of which he was completely
unashamed. His lack of shame in this follows on the noted shame of
what brought it about in the first place –

“…looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God.” Hebrews 12:2

The cross was considered the most shameful method of execution
possible. Any dignity a person possessed was taken away there. One
was stripped naked and crucified – leaving no possibility of
covering oneself. As the body struggled to stay alive, even the act
of breathing was brought to humiliation – the lungs filled with
fluid and the beautiful voice of the person would never be heard
again. Instead it would be mixed with gurgling and anguish. The
horrors and shame of the cross became Christ’s resounding cry of
victory and Paul was unashamed to proclaim it. The exact reason is
found detailed in Philippians chapter two. Paul notes that it was God
himself who took on flesh and accomplished this deed for His
creatures –

“And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the
point of death, even the death of
the cross.” Philippians 2:8

In the original Greek of this verse, there is no definite article
before the word “cross.” Thus Paul highlighted the absolute shame
of the cross death. This is what Jesus Christ endured and this is
what Paul found the most honorable of all. It is also the message
that is meant for everyone who believes. There is no person outside
of the reach of God’s grace and it comes through one definitive act
– belief. It is faith and faith alone which saves a person. Nothing
can be added to it and nothing can take away the life which is
granted when that trust is exercised.

The message is for all, “for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
What Paul is saying here is an order of time, not an order of
priority. The Jew first received the gospel and it was then
transmitted to the rest of the world. This is a confirming thought of
what he had just written “for everyone who believes.” The world
is divided in many ways, but the Bible’s preeminent distinction is
that it is divided as Jew and Gentile. Despite the enormous
distinction between the two, the gospel message is for and has the
same effect on both Jew and Gentile.

Such is the power and glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ and yet
words cannot adequately describe it.

Life application – Are you timid in sharing your faith or stepping
forward and telling others about the truth that there is but one way
to be reconciled to God? Ask for strength and wisdom in this matter
and bear in mind that the Lord of Creation hung naked and in agony
for you. What can man do to you which would be worse than what He
Himself bore? Now go forth and proclaim the good news.

O
God, that You would accomplish the work of the cross for one such as
me is more than I can imagine. Give me courage and strength to stand
up for the truth of Your word and for the proclamation of Your
wondrous gospel. This I pray that You will be glorified through the
message I speak. Amen.

For
in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it
is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17

Today’s verse contains a statement which will define the entire
structure of the epistle and, yes, even the Bible itself. To
introduce it, Paul says “for” which is given to explain what he
had just said. It cannot be missed though that the next verse also
includes the word “for.” In other words, Verse 17 will explain
what he has already said to the church in Rome (and thus to us) and
then the discourse on the nature of God and our relationship to Him
starting in verse 18 will explain what he says in this verse.

Paul is thinking clearly and presenting his argument in a logical
order. Therefore, when he speaks about issues which are contrary to
God’s nature and worthy of condemnation in his coming thoughts,
there is a direct connection to today’s verse. The statement of
such great weight and magnitude is “the righteousness of God.”
There are many theories about what this is speaking of.

1) Is it speaking of His innate righteousness? “I Am Who I Am and
therefore my traits such as righteousness define Me.”

2) Is it speaking of His goodness? The righteousness of God is
defined by His benevolent nature.

3) Is it speaking of His mode and means of justifying fallen man?
God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel which contains the
path to justification and thus our own declaration of righteousness.

4) Etc.

The answer is that the “righteousness of God” Paul is speaking
about is the gospel. God’s righteousness is an innate righteousness
and one doesn’t need the Bible to understand this even though the
Bible does proclaim it. God is benevolent and forgiving as is
evidenced in nature, such as in rains falling on all people whether
they are good or bad. His benevolent nature is also seen in the Bible
such as in the giving of prophets to again and again call His people
to repentance. But these don’t get at the heart of why Paul was
willing to expend himself (verse 17). Rather, he explains that it is
the gospel message to which his efforts were directed.

The “righteousness of God” is the act contained in the gospel –
“For in it…is revealed.” And then he explains the very heart
and core of that gospel – it is “from faith to faith.” The
gospel is the way in which God’s innate righteousness is
transferred to fallen man so that he stands justified and forgiven
for any and all of his transgressions, both inherited through Adam
and actively committed in the flesh. And this gospel is based solely
on faith.

In order to set this thought into motion, he cites the Scriptures
“for it is written.” Paul’s entire discourse explaining this
righteousness will be based on a verse which comes from the time of
the law and which was written by a prophet who lived under the law –
“The just shall live by faith.” This quote comes from the prophet
Habakkuk –

“Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk, under divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells the
people under the law (the obedience to its precepts are not of faith,
but of deeds) that those who are just shall live by faith. From this
one verse, Paul will lay out the “righteousness of God” as has
been displayed in and through Jesus Christ. But he won’t start
there. Instead, he will start with God’s natural revelation of
Himself and logically proceed from that springboard all the way
through to his final thoughts.

He is doing this to show us that in any place and in any time and to
any person – whether they have the law or not or whether they have
heard the gospel or not, God is just in the decisions He renders. No
one can say, “I didn’t know” and no one can say “God is
unfair.” In the end, we don’t need Jesus to go to hell, we are
heading there already. Rather, we need Jesus to be saved from hell.
Paul will detail this very clearly as we continue through Romans.

Life application – Are you living by faith in what God has
presented in the Bible about Jesus fulfilling the law on our behalf,
or are you attempting to be justified by some act or acts which are
prescribed in the law, such as not eating pork or not getting a
tattoo? Have faith that Jesus can and will save you when you call on
Him.

O
God, surely You are righteous when You judge and I have no reason to
accuse You of being unfair in Your decisions. You are the Creator and
I am a part of Your creation. Therefore, O God, I ask that You lead
me to a full and complete understanding of what You have done through
Jesus and then give me the faith to stand on that alone as I seek
Your favor. Amen.

For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Romans 1:18

Paul
now introduces the “wrath of God.” The word wrath is from the
Greek orge,
which in turn comes from orago.
This word means to “teem” or to “swell.” Hence, this isn’t
just a rash or sudden breaking out of wrath, but God’s measured and
righteous indignation at the state of man which Paul will describe in
detail.

However, before going forward, one needs to look back. The connector
“for” tells us that Paul is basing his statement on what he just
said. In verse 16, he spoke of the gospel message which is God’s
means of salvation and that it is based on belief. In verse 17, he
says “for in it, the righteousness of God is revealed.” In other
words, the gospel which necessitated the torturous death of the Lord
Jesus reveals the righteousness of God.

Jesus’ death wasn’t an isolated event which only applies to a
group known as Christians and no one else. It resulted because of
“who” God is, His very nature, and thus it applies to every human
on earth. The wrath of God will be executed in all people – either
directly as a result of their own unrighteousness, or indirectly by
substitution. The substitution still deals with the individual’s
unrighteousness, but it was taken out in Jesus and it is “revealed
from faith to faith.” Therefore, “The just shall live by faith.”
The faith includes the fact that God has dealt with their sin in the
body of Jesus Christ.

Now we can understand “the wrath of God” which Paul introduces in
today’s verse. This wrath “is revealed from heaven” meaning
that it comes directly from the throne of God and therefore it stems
from His very character. There is nothing arbitrary or impetuous
about it. Instead, when it is seen, it is because a violation against
His nature has occurred. It is this measured and righteous response
which comes against “all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”

The
two words are translated from asebeia
and adikia.
The first is well translated as “ungodliness” because it reflects
the opposite of godliness. What is demonstrated is the polar opposite
of what is expected. An example of this would be homosexuality. Sex
was designed by God to be between a man and a woman. This is the
self-evident natural order of things. Therefore, sins such as this
are committed against what God has naturally instilled in us and they
are diametrically opposed to His very nature; it is ungodliness. The
second word deals more with an absence of what is inwardly right in
attitude and what is outwardly right in conduct. It is the intention
behind the act leading to the act – “I don’t care what God says
and instead I will do this.” This is “unrighteousness.”

God’s wrath is revealed in these things by those “who suppress
the truth in unrighteousness.” What this is saying is tied into the
two words just looked at. What is natural and correct is instilled in
humanity by God and thus we have a conscience about our actions. But
this conscience is suppressed in order for us to do those things
which are contrary to the conscience. As Paul will show us, this
leads to a spiral of depravity which goes from one sin to another –
each more depraved than the next.

This unnatural course isn’t taken by individuals alone though.
Instead it is the path of societies throughout history as well.
Examples of such depravity are given from the earliest pages of the
Bible and are seen to continue to its last pages. We need to be clear
on what Paul is telling us because this is what necessitated the
death of the Lord. Looking to His cross is the only way apart from
God’s wrath being directly unleashed on us for the spiral to be
stopped.

For an individual, accepting the gospel leads to salvation. In a
nation, it leads to the restoration of morality and a right societal
relationship with God. Unfortunately, as wickedness grows, the
numbers of those who will accept the message dwindles until God’s
wrath is revealed, not in Christ’s substitution, but in His
measured response of destruction.

An important point to consider while reviewing Paul’s words in this
verse is that a full explanation of the good news is coming. However,
before the felicity and favor we must see the enmity and wrath. Only
then can we understand the great love of God which is found in the
Person of Jesus Christ.

Life application: One sin caused man to fall and all were condemned
through that one sin. God has offered a cure: through one Man’s
righteousness, we can be healed and saved. Are you willing to put
aside your enmity with God and accept His kind offer of grace?

Lord
God, when I realize that I am “condemned already” it makes me see
sin for what it is – a violation of Your righteousness. How can I
point fingers at others when Yours points at me already? Instead, I
thank You for Your grace and mercy and I ask that You help me to be a
light to others, intolerant of sin, but a light to the sinner. Amen.

…because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it
to them. Romans 1:19

To
ensure continuity, here is the entire thought – “For the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has
shown it
to them.”

“Because” then is speaking of what was said in verse 18. “The
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against these things…because
what may be known of God is manifest in them.”

Paul is speaking about God’s general revelation of Himself to
humanity. The creation displays the Creator, even if only in a
general sense. And this display confirms His glory, His wisdom, and
His divine attributes (as will be noted in verse 20). What we see
about God is completely evident and absolutely unmistakable.

Many passages in the Bible confirm what Paul is saying here. David
understood God’s manifestation through the created order when he
penned the 19th Psalm –

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world. (vss. 1-3 NIV)

If a man born 2700 hundred years ago as a shepherd and who became a
military leader can figure this out, then anyone else can too. David
had no training in philosophy or theology and yet he opened his eyes
and looked up and saw the wisdom and glory of God in what He has
created.

With only with God’s general revelation of Himself man has deduced
that there must have been a beginning to the creation and thus there
must have been a Beginner. If nothing else condemns us, this thought
alone would be sufficient. If there was nothing and then there was
something, then everything that is came from the intelligence of God.
And not only that, it must continue to be sustained by Him from
moment to moment. Philosophers, Christian and non-Christian alike,
have figured this out.

The Bible clearly speaks of these things, and it does so in detail.
Therefore, even if it weren’t the word of God, it would still prove
that these concepts can be deduced – because they are recorded in
its pages. The human mind has the ability to grasp such ideas and to
ponder them, but instead we shrug such hints about Him off and fill
our time with the useless pursuits of life. And not only this, but we
actively suppress the knowledge of Him because we want to work out
our impulses which we know are contrary to the nature of this
Creator.

This active suppression of the knowledge of God is reason enough for
His wrath to be poured out. In the end when humanity stands before
Him in judgment, there will be no excuses for our neglect of pursuing
Him.

Life application: As Christians, we accept that the Bible is God’s
revealed word and thus His special revelation of Himself. We also
then implicitly acknowledge that He has made Himself manifest through
His creation in a general way. Because we make this acknowledgment,
then aren’t we doubly responsible for searching Him out and
reflecting what we know to be true about Him? If the lost will be
condemned for suppressing such truth merely from general revelation,
then how much more should we be judged for not pursuing knowledge of
Him through His word and through His creation? Let us be diligent in
our pursuit of our God!

Lord
God, surely You have done great and wondrous things through Your
creation. And You have revealed Yourself even more fully through Your
Son, our Lord and Savior. Give us the wisdom to pursue the knowledge
of You all the days of our life. Ever seeking out Your glory and then
sharing it with us. Amen.

For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even
His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,…
Romans 1:20

“For”
gar
in Greek is our connector to the previous verse which said that God’s
wrath comes as a result of our thoughts and actions and in the
suppression of the truth about who He is and our accountability to
Him. He has shown it to us and yet we ignore Him. “For” since the
creation of the world – meaning the moment that all things came
into existence. The fact that anything exists at all confirms a
Necessary Being; a Being that cannot not
exist. We know this because the universe simply could not
exist; it is contingent on something else to be
and continue on being.

This is spoken of by Paul in Colossians 1:17 – “And He is before
all things, and in Him all things consist.” It is mentioned again
in Hebrews 1:3 – “…and upholding all things by the word of His
power…” As noted in the previous verse, even if the Bible weren’t
the Word of God, it still proclaims these self-evident truths and
thus it validates what Paul is saying about our relationship to Him.

And
not only is simply being
here proof of the existence of
God, but what is
here shows us who He is – “His
invisible attributes are clearly seen.” The universe displays
immense wisdom in its timed perfection. Therefore, whatever created
this timed perfection must be even greater. The harmony of nature
shows wisdom at every turn – the structure of DNA is more intricate
than we can possibly imagine; a spider’s web is geometrically
woven, immensely strong, highly flexible, and marvelous in its
design; the galaxies stretch off beyond our range of sight – each
immense and stupendous in complexity. And yet, all of the created
order must be less glorious than the Creator who made it. Despite
this, man in his desire to pursue unrighteousness ascribes all of
this design to random chance.

Despite our denials though, the truth is “understood by the things
that are made.” The 2nd Psalm shows us the wickedness of humanity
and our desire to cast off the rule and authority of God –

Why
do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of
the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from
us.” (vss. 1-3)

Man takes his stand. He writes books about the cosmos which theorize
a universe without God in control and where man is supreme over his
destiny. The governments of the world attempt to show there is no God
by inventing “global cooling” and then 20 years later “global
warming.” “Do you see…there is no God! We need to act!” But
then their theory is shown false and so they further refine their cry
against “climate change” which can mean anything and therefore it
means nothing. It is man taking counsel together against their
Creator.

But
Paul goes on by stating that their folly is even an attack against
“his eternal power and Godhead.” The truth of God is denied, but
the truth of “gods” isn’t. By their words and actions, they
admit forces beyond their understanding but which aren’t ultimate
in nature; they aren’t the true God. However, the creation itself
demonstrates that He is omnipotent and it even gives us the ability
to perceive the Godhead. This word is theiotes
and is speaking of his divine
nature. We deny God and we deny that He is
God, even though He proclaims Himself in every aspect of the created
order. And His response to their folly is found in the 2nd Psalm as
well –

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in
derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them
in His deep displeasure: (vss. 4-5)

His
wrath will come forth against them and when it does, Paul says “that
they are without excuse.” He uses the Greek term anapologetus
which is literally translated “no defense.” There will be no one
to stand next to them to defend them because as rational, moral
beings they are accountable to their Creator. There will be no
philosophical or logical argument which will stand up against the
Source of all wisdom and logic. And there will be no thing
they can use in their defense, because God is the Creator of all
things and therefore all things bear His mark of ownership. When Paul
says, “they are without excuse” it means that they will stand
completely and absolutely exposed before Him. There will be no hope.

Life application: As you look around you today, notice the wisdom and
creativity of the Lord in all you see. Ponder it and give Him the
credit He is due.

Lord
Jesus, I have called on You and have accepted Your Lordship over me.
And yet I am guilty before You each moment that passes for failing to
recognize Your glory in everything I see and perceive. I can only
praise You for allowing me to continue when what I deserve is Your
hand of wrath. Your mercy to me is far greater than I deserve. Glory
to You in the highest! Amen.

…because,
although they knew God, they did not glorify Him
as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and
their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:21

In this one verse is a sequence of events which shows us the depraved
state of man as he spirals downward and away from God.

1) Man knows God; it is undeniable and self-evident. Paul treats the
words “although they knew God” as an axiom. There is no valid
argument against His existence and yet the arguments come. The Bible
says when they do it is the fool who presents them –

The
fool has said in his heart, “There
is no God.” They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. Psalm
14:1

2) Man fails to give God the glory that He is due. With his innate
knowledge of God, man should turn and give Him glory. “I exist and
it was because of the goodness of God that I am here…glory be to
the One who created me and gave me life!” Instead though, we trudge
through life in the pursuit of vanity, never stopping to simply thank
Him or praise Him for life, beauty, food, joy, love, and blessing.
Darkness covers the light that we should perceive –

The
wise man’s eyes are
in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:14

This leads us to the next depraved step –

3) The natural result of failing to glorify God is a state of
ingratitude. Paul says, “…nor were they thankful.” If you put
someone on welfare because of a lost job, they will first think “I’m
so thankful. I’ll be able to eat this week.” Very quickly though
what was given as a temporary fix becomes expected and even demanded.
If you don’t believe this, go do mission work for a short time.
People, out of the goodness of their hearts, set up kitchens to feed
the inner city poor. However, the recipient’s appreciation quickly
fades and eventually the thought that they are entitled to a free
meal sets in. Strict rules must be set in place or fighting and
outbursts of immense selfishness arise. If we treat those we can see
in this manner, how much more the God we can’t see and who we never
gave a second thought to anyway. This ingratitude leads to the next
step downward…

4)
The result of ingratitude is futility in thinking. The word here is
dialogismos,
a word which indicates the inward contemplations and reasoning of
man. In other words, this is a state of rationalism about who we are,
why we are here, the nature or even the existence of God, etc. The
ungrateful naturally rationalize away their ingratitude. They are
self-absorbed and so they are inwardly motivated to create a god in
their own mind. They know what they have is undeserved, but they also
know that by acknowledging the true God, they are actually
accountable to Him. And so they turn to any god that will suit their
state at the moment. They begin to worship the creation rather than
the Creator.

5) Because of this logical progression away from God, “their
foolish hearts were darkened.” This is a state of complete
spiritual blindness. However, man in his most depraved state will
often appear to be the most enlightened. The “intellectual elite”
and the greats of world religions are often the most depraved. Peter
speaks of people who have reached this state of spiritual darkness.
They deny what is spiritually correct while espousing utter falsities
about God, the natural order, and right reason. He labels these types
“brute beasts.” They are unreasoning animals who have lost all
right sense and follow only the basest instincts –

“But
these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed,
speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly
perish in their own corruption, and
will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it
pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They
are spots and blemishes, carousing
in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full
of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls.
They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and
are accursed children. 2 Peter
2:12-14

The people Paul speaks of and who are described by Peter fill the
halls of religions around the world, including Christianity.
Denominations are ordaining homosexuals, mixing false religion with
the truth, and are pursuing money and fame rather than righteousness.
In the verses ahead, Paul will continue to explain these things, all
of which are to remind us that God is just in His wrath and
indignation.

Life application: We are either moving toward God in holiness or away
from Him into a state of depravity and spiritual darkness. There is
no static state in our relationship with God and therefore we need to
continually strive to glorify Him and be thankful to Him.

Lord
God, I once was blind, but now I see. Please continue to give me
clarity of thought about who You are. Help me to be one who gives You
the glory You are due. You have given me life, food, family, and
friends. You have given me so much and yet I have returned so little.
May my attitude towards You be corrected. Thank You for all good
blessings. Amen.

Professing
to be wise, they became fools…
Romans 1:22

Paul is continuing to build on the thought of the previous verse.
Those who innately know there is a God but who failed to glorify Him
and give Him thanks then “became futile in their thoughts, and
their foolish hearts were darkened.” In this spiritually darkened
state, they profess themselves to “be wise.”

The word “wise” is translated from sophoi (from the same word as
Sophia). It is wisdom that would be ascribed to the intellectually
and culturally sophisticated people of the Greek civilization. These
would then be the religious and intellectual cream of the crop.
However, without directing their attention to the truth about God,
which is as simple and easy to understand as looking up and knowing
that the universe didn’t create itself, they then “became fools.”

The
single word for “they became fools” here is emoranthesan
and yes, the “fool” portion is the source of our modern word
“moron.” It is almost comedic to think about these people, then
and now, strut around professing either religious or intellectual
superiority and yet God’s word calls them morons. But the stupidity
of their arguments proves the title.

In Acts chapter 17, Paul speaks to these elite when he addresses the
Aeropagus. It was an open air forum where “all the Athenians and
the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but
either to tell or to hear some new thing.” (Acts 17:21) Paul walked
into the center of this vast stadium and told them of the “New
Thing” in his life which was from before the creation of the world.
In his short discourse, he actually quoted two of their own
philosophers – Erastus and Epimenides, using their own
contemplations to demonstrate what he has thus far been saying in
Romans – that we innately know certain things about God.

In both the Old Testament and the New (as is highlighted in Acts 17),
man sets up idols which are a part of creation – wood, stone, gold,
or whatever – bowing to them and giving them credit for the good
stuff that happens in life. Paul says that these people have become
foolish because of such things.

But there is also the foolishness of denying God exists. A modern
“deep thinker” and atheist is Richard Dawkins. During one filmed
interview he actually said that maybe aliens had seeded life on
planet earth. This supposed wise thinker of the atheist community
simply pushed the origins of life back one step, but he could give no
ultimate answer for where the aliens then came from. In his futile
attempt to deny the obvious, he made himself look like the moron he
had become. His lack of religion is his religion and he is spreading
the inane message to a world hungry for anything except the truth.

Life
application: Here we are. Will we give the credit for our existence
to the Creator or to a part of the creation? Will we acknowledge that
we are wise by acknowledging His wisdom, or will we prove ourselves
morons when we shut our hearts and minds to the truth? Be wise and
stand on the obvious – “in Him we live and move and have our
being.” (Act 17:28 as cited by Paul when quoting Epimenide’s
Creatia).

Lord
Jesus, I don’t profess to “know it all” but I know that You are
God and that it is You who has given me life and happiness. I fully
intend to search out Your wisdom for all eternity as You reveal Your
unseen Father to us. How I cherish Your word and O! How I cherish
You. Amen.

…and
changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping
things. Romans 1:23

As Paul noted in the previous verse, which is a part of this
sentence, “Professing to be wise they became fools…” The reason
this happened is based on the logical sequence of events which
preceded it. As man rejects God, the knowledge of Him must be
replaced with something; all vacuums look to be filled. These people,
wise in their own eyes, become fools and trade what is glorious for
what is ignoble, what is of highest value for that which perishes, of
what is holy for that which is profane.

Paul gives four categories of idolatry, each more base than the next.
First man changes “the glory of the incorruptible God into an image
made like corruptible man.” Man was created in God’s image
(Genesis 1:26) and so in ignoring God, he moves to the next visible
part of the creation in worship; he worships himself. And in order to
glorify himself, he makes an image of himself. If you see what is
happening, God created man in order to bring Himself glory. By
creating a sentient being who can appreciate the rest of His creation
and also fellowship with Him, man was intended to glorify God through
thanks and praise (see verse 21).

However, the thanks and praise weren’t forthcoming which led to
where man is now – exalting himself through self-deification and
making an idol in his own image; He is attempting to emulate the God
of creation. By taking this action though he actually degrades his
perception of the real God and thus the spiral continues down.

The
next step is to make images of things that are even beneath him -
“birds and four footed animals and creeping things.” Amazingly,
not only is man now directing his worship toward creatures that are
beneath him, he worships images
of creatures. He has taken what is even below the lowliest creeping
thing – inanimate objects such as wood, stone, or metal – and
fashioned it with his own hands into something… and then he prays
to the thing he has made which resembles something beneath his own
category of life. His mind is completely lost in idolatry.

Isaiah writes about this attitude and the sheer folly it displays –

Those
who make an image, all of them are
useless,

And their precious things shall not profit;

They
are
their own witnesses;

They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.

Who would form a god or mold an image

That
profits him nothing?

Surely all his companions would be ashamed;

And
the workmen, they are
mere men.

Let them all be gathered together,

Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear,

They shall be ashamed together.

The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals,

Fashions it with hammers,

And works it with the strength of his arms.

Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails;

He drinks no water and is faint.

The
craftsman stretches out his
rule,

He marks one out with chalk;

He fashions it with a plane,

He marks it out with the compass,

And makes it like the figure of a man,

According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.

He cuts down cedars for himself,

And takes the cypress and the oak;

He
secures it
for himself among the trees of the forest.

He
plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.

Then it shall be for a man to burn,

For he will take some of it and warm himself;

Yes,
he kindles it
and bakes bread;

Indeed
he makes a god and worships it;

He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.

He burns half of it in the fire;

With this half he eats meat;

He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.

He
even warms himself
and says,

“Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”

And the rest of it he makes into a god,

His carved image.

He
falls down before it and worships it,

Prays
to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are
my god!”

They do not know nor understand;

For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,

And
their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

And no one considers in his heart,

Nor
is there
knowledge nor understanding to say,

“I have burned half of it in the fire,

Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals;

I
have roasted meat and eaten it;

And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?

Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”

He feeds on ashes;

A deceived heart has turned him aside;

And he cannot deliver his soul,

Nor
say, “Is there
not a lie in my right hand?” Isaiah 44:9-20

Idolatry isn’t an affliction of ages past. It is found in religions
throughout the world today and it is found in every human heart at
one time or another. Anything which replaces our devotion to God
becomes and idol and therefore we must protect against falling into
this trap. The Bible’s wonderful advice in Hebrews 12:2 will help
us to keep from straying – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…”

Life application: Do you read daily horoscopes? Do you “knock on
wood” in hopes of favor? When you break a mirror do you even in a
kidding manner say “Oh that’s bad luck.”? Giving credit to any
created thing for chance or destiny demonstrates a wrong attitude
toward the Creator who has written our destiny. Stand firm on giving
Him the praise, honor, and glory that He is due and let your actions
and words reflect His value at all times.

Yes
Lord God, give me a willing and obedient heart that will direct all
of my thoughts and attention toward You alone. Keep me from the sins
which so easily beset and which then move to take over my
relationship with You. On my own, I know I will fail, and so I ask
You to actively keep me from such things. To Your glory I pray this.
Amen.

Therefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts,
to dishonor their bodies among themselves,…
Romans 1:24

“Therefore…” When you see this word in a passage, go back and
see what it is there for. An argument has been submitted and now
comes the conclusion. In this case, “therefore” is referring to
verses 18-23. Because of these things that Paul has spoken of “God
also gave them up to uncleanness.” They have turned from Him and
now He gives them up. The 14th Psalm, speaking of the atheist, gives
insights into this condition –

The
fool has said in his heart, “There
is no God.” They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The
Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there
are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt; There
is none who does good, No, not
one. Psalm 14:1-3

It’s important to understand that this is not a universal condition
as some theologians claim. Calvinism uses a portion of this psalm,
quoted by Paul in chapter 3 of Romans, to make an all-encompassing
claim on the state of man. However, when Paul cites a verse, its
context must be taken into consideration. David was a man who sought
after God and he wrote the Psalm. Therefore, it would be a pretext to
claim a universal application to “none who does good” instead of
applying it to those who deny the existence of God.

This is therefore speaking of those who turn from God as Paul
describes, moving from one level of depravity to another as their
foolish hearts are darkened. As they progress into a more and more
depraved state, God gives “them up to uncleanness in the lusts of
their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.”

In
their rejection of God, they become mere sensual beings without
rational thought. Remember though, some of those who appear most
intelligent are those who are “professing to be wise” and yet
they fall into this category. Their supposed wisdom is directed by
the “lusts of their hearts.” The Greek word is epithumiais
and indicates a desire of some sort. In Paul’s context the word
“lust” is spot on. They are filled with an animal instinct which
directs their thoughts and hearts, even to the point of dishonoring
“their bodies among themselves.”

Life application: The more we turn to idolatry, intentionally or
unintentionally, the more we separate ourselves from God. Not walking
under a ladder is a smart way of not having a hammer fall on your
head, but if your intent is to avoid bad luck then it is a step in
the wrong direction. Each step of life takes you either forward or
backward in your spiritual walk. Step carefully and with thoughtful
consideration.

Heavenly
Father, You called me out of darkness when I trusted in Jesus. Help
me to continue on the right and proper path all my days, never going
backward or straying from the right and true course. Thank You for
being with me and directing my steps! Amen.

…who
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1:25

Today’s
thought shows the continued progression of the idolatrous heart as it
continues down the spiral of depravity. God has given these people up
because of their rejection of Him. And the way they did it is to
exchange “the truth of God for the lie.” The particular structure
of this phrase, reflecting the Hebrew mind of Paul, means “the true
God.” When two nouns come together, one is used in the form of an
adjective and thus qualifies the other. They have made an exchange –
something of no value for that which is of infinite value. They have
sold their birthright for a bowl of soup. They have accepted the lie
and shunned the Truth. The word for “lie” is pseudei
– it is a falsehood; a pseudo god and not the true God.

In so doing, they have now “worshiped and serve the creature rather
than the Creator.” This is any form of bondage in sin. Perhaps it
is addiction to alcohol, perhaps drugs, or perhaps it is something
seemingly as innocuous as vegetarianism. What was supposed to bring
freedom has now enslaved them. Once caught in this bondage, it seems
to be the only right course of action. Vegetarianism is mentioned
simply because it is contrary to God’s law. Man was given authority
over the creatures of the earth. In Genesis 9:3, after the Flood of
Noah, God said this to him, “Every moving thing that lives shall be
food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”

At the time of Moses, certain dietary restrictions were introduced
for a single group of people and for a specific purpose. This group
was Israel and the purpose was the Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law on
our behalf (Matthew 5:17) and therefore all men of Christian faith
(including Jews) were told that there were no longer any dietary
restrictions for those who have called on Him –

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you
no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from
things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from
sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do
well.” Acts 15:28, 29

However, when incorrect thinking about who God is steps into the
equation, animals are elevated above humans. Invariably, when
questioned about whether human abortion is acceptable, PETA members
will answer in the affirmative. And yet they will guard a nest of
turtle eggs with their life. In their attempt to throw off God’s
rule, they will have their agenda introduced into government
legislation and thus bring others under their idolatrous practices.
This is where Europe and America are both heading because of the
far-left agenda. It is a two headed monster – a throwing off of
God’s rule and then replacing it with a humanistic attempt to
subordinate man to the creation.

But sin is sin and it will find its form in whatever means is
comfortable for the individual. Some will bow to gods of stone or
wood, some will bow to the opposite sex in reverence, and some will
bow to their own sex in ungodly lust. Others will find their god in
heroin or the pursuit of gold. The creature now is served “rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

What
Paul means by introducing this phrase is that when all of these
created things have perished, God will still remain – holy,
unstained, and perfect. He is “blessed forever.” Thus, our
temporary idolatry will be seen in the true light which it always
was. He is the Fountain of all existence, all life, and all goodness
and therefore instead of shunning Him we should all proclaim to Him
“Amen. The truth of God endures and we give You our worship. So be
it and Amen.”

Heavenly
Father, You have shown us what is right and good in Your word. Please
continue to open our eyes to the things we are allowed to do and give
us the strength to reject those things which are forbidden. Please
give us wisdom to discern these things and then the ability to
continue in them all our days. Amen.

For
this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Romans
1:26

Paul
uses the term that God “gave them up” for a second time and this
is the second instance where sexual sin is involved. When we reject
God, a spiral of depravity results which leads inevitably to a state
of sexual perversion – from one form to another, each building upon
resentment for God and what He has ordained. Paul shows us that this
inevitably leads to lesbianism and (as we will see tomorrow)
homosexuality. Paul calls this particular sin “vile passions”
because the “women exchanged the natural use for what is against
nature.” In the Greek of this verse, Paul uses the term theleiai
for “women,” or literally “females.” In Matthew 19:4, 5 Jesus
says the following –

“Have
you not read that He who made them
at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For
this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”

In
these verses, he uses thely
for “female” and switches to gyniaki
for “wife.” She is a woman in right standing with the natural
order in her union to the man. However, Paul doesn’t use this
concept when speaking of the lesbian union in Romans 1:26. They are
females exercising vile passions with females and are therefore
working against the natural order.

He speaks of the women before speaking of the men. This is to
highlight the immensity of the breakdown in what is right. Women are
the bearer of the child in the womb and the home keepers as children
are raised. Therefore, their degenerate attitude is noted first.

Paul’s words then ask us to realize that what he is speaking of is
perversion. It is deemphasizes what is intellectually correct, what
is spiritually noble, and what is emotionally pure. It emphasizes
what is mentally twisted, spiritually ungodly, and emotionally
obsessive and damaged. Paul will use similar wording in the next
verse when speaking of such conduct between males.

Life
application: Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, 19 to, “Flee sexual
immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who
commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not
know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from God,
and you are not your own?” Be willing to stand on moral purity and
reject what is sexually immoral. If you are struggling with this in
your life, ask the Lord to strengthen you.

Heavenly
Father, I struggle with the flesh in many ways and ask that You help
me to stay away from that which is improper. Give me strength and
keep me from falling into temptation. But should it come, help me to
make the right decision and head for the exit before I succumb to it.
Thank You for hearing my prayer which I make in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Likewise
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and
receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Romans 1:27

Again as in 1:26, Paul uses a word for “men” which indicates
“males.” What he will speak of concerns acts of debauchery and
perversion in which “males” go against the natural order. What is
normal and right with “man” is excluded in his thoughts here.
“Likewise” is speaking about what he stated concerning the
“females” in verse 26 and he will now apply that same logic to
the “males.”

These “males” whose mental state has fallen to the basest form of
depravity leave “the natural use of the woman.” Neither a rocket
scientist nor a specialist in anatomy is needed to determine what the
different sexual organs of the male and female are meant for. Like
the knowledge of God, it is self-evident. It is the deviant who shuns
this knowledge and goes about using their parts in an inappropriate
manner.

Not
only do they act out their abnormal thoughts, but they actually burn
“in their lust for one another.” The verb translated as “burned”
is the Greek word exekauthesin.
This is the only time it is used in the Bible and it is in a way
(aorist indicative passive) that indicates these people “were set
ablaze” in their passions. What we have seen is the morally
depraved downward spiral as men reject God. When He is completely
turned away from, there is nothing left but a total consuming of the
individual in a mental state which is acted out in that which is
contrary to nature.

Paul describes this mental/physical state as “men with men.” Like
the females in verse 26, these males have committed the ultimate act
of what is shameful and yet because they have departed so far from
normal and right thinking they continue on in their vile actions.
Paul says that because of this they receive “in themselves the
penalty of their error which was due.” This penalty comes because
“God gave them up” to their vile passions.” (v. 26) This is
what one would term “judicial abandonment.” Instead of active
prosecution of the sin, God in essence removes Himself from the
equation and allows nature to take its course.

If what is natural and ordained by God leads to life, then what is
unnatural and opposed to Him will lead to death. Diseases such as
AIDS are the inevitable result of such perversion. Throughout
history, when homosexuality becomes prevalent in a society, the
incidents of plagues targeted at the offenders arise. Venereal
diseases mutate as the unnatural habits spread and very quickly they
take over the entire population. Along with these obvious signs are
those which need to be seen from a wider angle – mental problems,
shortened life spans, societal conflicts, etc all result from the
entry and acceptance of homosexuality into a culture. These are “the
penalty of the error which was due.”

The most egregious part of what occurs though is the purposeful
blaming of God for their penalty – as if He was mean or capricious.
Rather, they are getting what they deserve by acting in a manner
contrary to normalcy. Thus even their concept of right and wrong
about their judgment is convoluted.

Life application: How many times do we see people, even within the
Christian community, who blame God for adversity? However, the
opposite is usually not the case. Life, food, friends, income, etc.
are looked as a deserved, and thanks aren’t forthcoming. Let us be
quick to be thankful to God for every good blessing and slow to blame
or show anger when adversity comes.

Heavenly
Father, give me a grateful heart for the many blessings I enjoy each
day. At the same time, help me to overcome thoughts which would
accuse You for difficulties that occur in my life. I deserve far
worse than I have ever received and with Jesus as my Lord, I know
that eternity will be perfect. Help me to keep my eyes on that! Amen.

And
even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things
which are not fitting;…
Romans 1:28

In
this verse, Paul shows that the responsibility for what has occurred
lies solely with the wickedness of man and his rejection of God. “And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge…” is
referring back to man’s unwillingness to give God thanks or praise
(verse 20-23). Because of this rejection, these things came about.
The word “like” is the Greek edokimasan
which means “to put to the test.” In their minds, they put God to
the test of their own moral compass and found that they wanted to do
things without Him. Because of this, “God gave them over to a
debased mind.”

As
a result of this, He then hands them over to their own wicked
devices. The word for “debased” is the word adokimon
– failing to pass the test. It is a different form of the same word
mentioned above. They put God to the test and chose what they wanted
rather than Him and so He gave them over to a failing of His test.
Their moral perversion, which they willingly chose, has led to their
mental perversion, which is the result of what they chose. The
penalty they received for their ungodliness is a penal infliction of
judgment necessitated by His holiness.

The debased mind they have brought upon themselves results in doing
“those things which are not fitting.” As we have seen, this
corrupt attitude leads to “the penalty of their error.” Nature,
which God created, actively works to eliminate what is unnatural
through disease and death. This shows the righteousness and judgment
of God in and through creation. If what He creates works in this way,
then how much more sure will be His hand of judgment when we as
humans stand before Him?

Life application: Death entered the world through sin. Jesus came to
take our place and grant us new life apart from sin. By faith in Him
we are freed from its penalty forever. Though this isn’t yet
realized, it is the glorious hope that we as believers have. Because
of this hope, let us strive to live holy lives now, to His honor and
glory.

Lord,
certainly I pray for a mind which is directed toward You and away
from the wickedness of this fallen world. Help me to be a light to
others and give me the ability to explain why You are just in Your
judgments and how they too can be free from sin’s penalty. Thank
You for Your guiding instructions which will allow this. Amen.

This
verse is continuing on with those that God gave over to a debased
mind that now “do those things which are not fitting.”
Forthcoming from Paul’s hand is a list of 23 of these things and
they fit people of every stratum of society and from the most
backward of people groups to the most economic and socially elite in
the world. Some people may be filled with many in the list and some
with just a few or only one, but the depravity of the human heart
finds its release somewhere in this list in fallen man.

Considering
that man was made in God’s image and with the intent and purpose of
bringing Him glory, this list is a scathing indictment on us. The
first is “all unrighteousness.” This is a broad brushstroke of
those who are in Adam and it speaks of every angle from which sin can
attack – the thoughts, the words, the actions, the inactions, the
motivations, etc. This thought covers these both outwardly toward
others and inwardly toward self. The man who was created to be
spiritually connected to God is carnal an unspiritual.

The
next in the list has been covered in the preceding verses – “sexual
immorality.” This is any sexual thought, action, or contact which
occurs outside of the bonds of a marriage between a man and a woman.
God presented Eve to Adam and thus the pattern was established at the
beginning. The Law of Moses, the arrival of Jesus, and the
introduction of the Church Age all confirm the original intent and
pattern. Sexual sins are personal and intimate and therefore they
require one to be in tune with God’s intent at all times lest they
take over the unsuspecting or unprepared.

Next
on the list is “wickedness.” This word speaks of intentional harm
against others. A good word to understand this would be malice. John
Calvin states, “It is that depravity and obliquity of mind which
strives to produce injury on others.”

From
wickedness we move to “covetousness.” Coveting is the last of the
Ten Commandments and so is it isn’t perceived “as bad” as other
sins. But this is the opposite of the truth. Coveting leads to the
committing of the other sins. When one covets something else, they
take their eyes off God and replace Him with that thing – thus
breaking the first commandment. Coveting another man’s wife leads
to adultery, thus breaking the seventh commandment, etc. We need to
be thankful for what we do have and fix our eyes on Jesus, not on the
things we don’t possess.

“Maliciousness”
is next and indicates ill will which is fundamentally vicious in
nature. One may consider a soul longing for revenge and filled with
extreme bitterness in this category.

Another
of the list is being “full of envy.” Webster describes it this
way “Pain, uneasiness, mortification, or discontent, excited by
another’s prosperity, accompanied with some degree of hatred or
malignity, and often with a desire or an effort to depreciate the
person, and with pleasure in seeing him depressed.” The soul filled
with envy is bitter indeed and will go to great lengths to injure
another simply because someone else has received something they feel
they deserve and which the other didn’t deserve.

“Murder”
is in the list and is also the sixth commandment. Murder does not
include the lawful taking of a life for a capital crime; the taking
of a life in self-defense; or the taking of life in legitimate
battle. The Bible is perfectly clear on these issues. What is does
speak of is the intentional taking of another human life apart from
these exceptions. Man was created in God’s image and therefore to
willfully take another life is an attack against God’s image
bearer. This includes the crime of abortion. When a society devalues
human life, either by authorizing the murder of others, including the
unborn, or by withholding the execution of capital crimes, that
society becomes implicitly guilty in the blood that was shed.

“Strife”
can be summed as conflicting with others about words more than
things. It is seeking glory and victory in speech and conflict rather
than for the truth. This sin has become so commonplace since the
introduction of the internet that it is everywhere at all times.
Social media has given everyone the ability to attempt to seem
authoritative on a matter whether they know what they are talking
about or not. People strive for the sake of strife.

“Deceit”
is engaging in deception. People engage in “philosophy and empty
deceit” as Paul says in Colossians 2:8 and thus make boastful
pretense to their own morality even though they are often the basest
of beings.

The
next on the list are those filled with “evil-mindedness.” This is
the mental state of someone who is filled with Satan and not by God.
They abound in wickedness. It is an insatiable mental state which
consumes every thought and then is displayed in every action. Because
of this the inevitable result is that “they are whisperers.”
Gossip, whether of truthful things or untruthful things, has the main
intent of conquering and dividing. The evil-minded don’t have
felicity and peace on their mind, but rather conflict and hatred.
They sow the seeds of these things with their whisperings.

The
list will continue as Paul describes the state of the human soul who
is at enmity with their Creator. Only through the new birth which
comes by calling on Jesus can this state be terminated in a person.
This doesn’t mean it will happen all at once, or even in this life,
but that through His work we can be free of these things and thus
work to please God until the day He glorifies us.

Life
application: Take time to reread the list of today’s sins and think
about where you can improve your own life and actions concerning any
of them which still arise in you.

Lord,
test me and search me out. Find any root of bitterness, envy, strife,
lust, hatred, or any other attitude which causes me to act in a
manner which is contrary to what You would wish for me. And then
Lord, please give me the ability to overcome these things that I
might be a pleasing vessel, ready for Your use. Amen.

The lengthy list which began in the previous verse continues on now.
Paul includes “backbiters” as our first of verse 30. A backbiter
is similar to the “whisperer” of the previous verse, but what the
whisperer says silently, the backbiter says openly – yet not in the
presence of the one they are defaming. This is the person who would
openly walk up and hug someone but as soon as they leave the room
they would find malevolent words with which to tear them up.

Next Paul lists “haters of God.” This is one of the most common
sentiments found in the world and yet it is of the highest category
of crime there is. The Bible says, the “fool says in his heart
there is no God.” Such is the atheist. However, the person that
says He hates God is a double fool because he openly acknowledges
there is a God and yet he also shows contempt for Him. Nothing could
be more astonishing and yet it happens all around the world all the
time. The epitome of this hatred is directed by those at enmity with
Jesus Christ. The reason for this is explained in John 15:24, 25 –

“If
I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would
have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My
Father. But this
happened that the word might be
fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a
cause.” John 15:24-25

When
someone claims to love God and yet hates Jesus, they surely have
distorted thinking. Jesus is the One who reveals the unseen God to
us. He is the second member of the Trinity and therefore to deny Him
is to deny God; to hate Him is to hate God. And this inevitably leads
to the consequences of this – “If the world hates you, you know
that it hated Me before it
hated you.” (John 15:18) God’s
people are hated because God’s Son is hated.

The
next group Paul highlights are the “violent.” This word is
translated differently by various translators. It comes from the
Greek hyperephanous.
The word phaino
means to “shine forth” and hyper
is “above” or “over.” Therefore, this is better translated
“prideful” or “proud.” They believe they shine over and above
anyone else. This is one of the chief sins noted in the Bible because
when pride steps in, then the proud person has only contempt for
everyone around him, including God. It is self-deification. The NKJV
translates this “violent” and this is often an inevitable result
of pride. When someone who is prideful gains power and authority, it
can be brought out in the most violent of ways.

Next come “boasters” in our list. This is a good follow up to
those who are prideful because along with pride comes great boastings
of self. Those who are boastful will trump their achievement above
those of everyone else and nothing will satisfy their lust for
praise. When it comes, more boasting comes in hopes of more praise.
This is the person with the “I” problem. He sees himself and
nothing else… “I, I, I.”

From
boasters we move to “inventors of evil things.” The word is
kakon,
meaning “evil.” This is speaking of those who simply invent new
forms of evil. Their minds think up perverse things, wicked things,
and innovative things – all which will satisfy a lust for
accomplishing evil in new and exciting ways. The porn industry fits
this well. As people become numb to one form of perversion something
new is introduced to excite the audience. This cycle eventually leads
to such horrors as “snuff films.” When the sex is no longer
enough to satisfy, murder is included in the act. The horrifying
level to which the depraved mind will sink to seems to have no end.

The final category in today’s verse is those who are “disobedient
to parents.” The family is the nucleus of a well running society.
When the family structure breaks down, the society naturally breaks
down as well. And so discipline within the family must be maintained.
So great is the necessity for this, that God when speaking the law to
Israel included this –

“If
a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice
of his father or the voice of his mother, and who,
when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and
his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of
his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders
of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will
not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the
men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall
put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and
fear.” Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Likewise, in Exodus 21:17, the Lord noted that anyone “who curses
his father or his mother” shall be put to death. Unfortunately
modern society has completely reversed the roles and television shows
commonly portray children who are insolent to their parents and who
tell them what to do rather than the other way around. This can only
lead to chaos within a society because God’s order of what is right
has been rejected.

Life application: Take a moment and reread the types of inappropriate
behavior Paul mentions today and think about where you can improve
the conduct of your own life. Stand firm on God’s word and know
that He has not only shown us the proper way of conducting our lives,
but He has shown us what displeases Him as well.

Lord
God, I have failed in being the perfect and obedient child that You
would have me be. As I continue in this list of wrong conduct, I see
my own faults clearly highlighted. Please give me right reason and a
sound mind to do what is right and to shun what is evil. Thank You
for Jesus who has granted me forgiveness of my transgressions. Amen.

Today
we see five more areas where depraved man falls short of God’s
glory and displays it in enmity against Him and His principles. The
first concerns the “undiscerning.” The Greek word is asynetous.
The “a” is a negative and is followed by synetos meaning
“knowing” and thus it is speaking of people without discernment.
There is morally right and there is morally wrong, but there are
those who can’t tell the difference between the two. They are
foolish in their decisions and confused in their thought processes.

All
of this stems from an inability or a refusal to think clearly about
the nature of God. When this occurs, everything else becomes muddled
and confused as well. A perfect example of such mentally miniscule
thinking concerns the issue of abortion. What is clearly wrong in the
taking of a human life is rationalized away in order to justify the
unjustifiable. At the same time, the protection of animals or capital
criminals is elevated to the highest importance. This confused
thinking permeates the social left in the world.

After
this, Paul mentions the “untrustworthy.” The Greek word is
asynthetous. As you can see it is an alliteration of the first
word – asynetous / asynthetous. Like the first word
“a” is a negative and the word syntithemoui describes the making
of a covenant. This alliteration by Paul is a literary style known as
a paronomasia. This is the use of a word in different senses or the
use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect such as
humor or a dual meaning.

In
this use by Paul, he shows that there is not only a lack of
discernment, but there is also a lack of trustworthiness. Because
they can’t think clearly on moral issues, they also don’t act
clearly concerning moral responsibilities. Again, we can turn to the
social left to see this. Not only is their thinking completely
opposed to what is godly, their decisions can’t be trusted. Very
good examples in the world of “right now” are gun control and
health care. The left seizes any and every opportunity it can to take
away the very rights of those who could stop the initial reason for
the calamity which has arisen. And in the process of doing so, they
violate the initial promises that they made concerning the issue in
the first place.

There
is absolutely no trust in the words or promises of politicians on the
left, from the lowest congressman to the US President. The same is
true with liberal minded people in all countries and in all
vocations. What they speak is of no value because their word is
organic and changing. It is an infection of the mind which transfers
to every action of the person.

Next
to be listed are the “unloving.” The word here comes from the
concept of a person who lacks natural affection. This again transfers
through what is moral to what is political. It points directly to the
morally lacking thought process. The “natural affection” Paul is
referring to is the bond between a parent and a child. What should be
the strongest bond of all is missing when the knowledge of God is
rejected. The Bible is replete with passages where children were
sacrificed to Molech and causing them to “pass through the fire”
such as in 1 Kings 17:16, 17 –

“So
they left all the commandments of the Lord
their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves,
made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served
Baal.And they caused their sons and daughters to pass
through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold
themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord,
to provoke Him to anger.”

The
cultures Paul was exposed to left female children out to die,
preferring male babies. Some buried the children alive. Albert Barnes
notes that during an earlier period, “In most of the Grecian
states, infanticide was not merely permitted, but actually enforced
by law. The Spartan lawgiver expressly ordained that every child that
was born should be examined by the ancient men of the tribe, and that
if found weak or deformed, should be thrown into a deep cavern at the
foot of Mount Taygetus.”

The
modern parallel is of course abortion. The left is rabid in their
defense of abortion and any attempt at restricting or eliminating
this legalized murder is met with the strongest opposition possible.
They have lost any true natural affection and have replaced it with
immoral sensuality and licentiousness. This moral depravity fits
naturally with the next on the list, those who are “unforgiving.”

The
Greek word comes from the thought of “no libation.” Pouring out a
libation to a god was a way of making peace with that god and thus
forming a treaty. The idea then is a person who is completely
unwilling to make peace; they are implacable. A quote from this
week’s news says this about the current administration, “What he
does is position his political opponents as the enemy. Everything he
did today in the debt limit Q&A in his press conference, and even
in the setup, was about the enemy.” This is the very thought
process Paul is describing. “There is no agreement, there is no
reconciliation, and there is no felicity. Instead, there is only ‘us
and them’ and we will never cede an inch in our battle of depravity
and moral perversity.”

The
last of today’s list speaks of the “unmerciful.” In the lack of
human affection which leads to a lack of working together through
reconciliation, Paul saw the result was a society which was destitute
of compassion. In the world around him, the old, the sick, and the
infirm were cast out and left to fend for themselves, find a
charitable source to maintain them, or to die. The inevitable result
of turning away from godly thinking in a society is that compassion
flees and only self-gratification and ruthlessness is left.
Healthcare which breaks down because it is engineered improperly
inevitably leads to rationing and a hierarchy of those who will
receive care. It is already taking place in Europe and Canada and it
is coming to the United States.

The
liberal left is forcing its morally depraved values upon an
unsuspecting society. What is heralded as right and compassionate
will be seen for what is – immoral and uncaring. The Bible is
always vindicated because its Author peers into the heart and soul of
man and sees his utterly depraved state moving logically from one
twisted state to another.

Life
application: Think clearly about moral issues – not as society sees
them, but as God sees them. Hold fast to His word and His guidance
and flee from the wicked and depraved thinking of those who have lost
any moral compass as they drift in the sea of ungodliness.

Lord
God, I can see the logical progression of how individuals and
societies move slowly and inexorably away from what is right to what
is perverse. Help me to be a champion in speaking out against the
moral decline in my own land and help me to stand firm on the
unchanging and immutable values presented in Your word. Amen.

…who,
knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve
of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32

This is the last verse of chapter 1 and it sums up the discourse
which began in verse 18. All that Paul has said since then shows that
man is without excuse when God judges him. We can know enough about
Him from the creation itself that we stand condemned when we go
against what is right and obvious. We instinctively know about Him,
and therefore we “know the righteous judgment” which will
necessarily proceed from Him.

This judgment comes to those “who practice such things” as are
described in verses 21-31 and which are “deserving of death.”
This doesn’t mean that they will receive death, but that this is
what is deserved. They are aware of it and thus it shows their guilt
in continuing on in the face of the looming judgment. When His wrath
is poured out, there will be no valid reason to speak against it.
Every mouth will be stopped.

However, knowing this, they purposely fail in the things they should
do and they intentionally act in the ways they shouldn’t. But Paul
goes on to say that as if that wasn’t enough, they “not only do
the same but also approve of those who practice them.” In other
words, they applaud as others take their perverted course. Sinful man
doesn’t want to act alone in his sin, but he wants to make a party
of it. The common expression, “Come on, everybody does it” is
what is being relayed here. Thus there is not only an expected hand
of judgment, but it will be doubly just. They have looked for hell
and have brought others along to join them.

All of this leads us back to what preceded this discourse on
depravity. Paul’s words concerning the gospel can now be seen in a
much clearer light –

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and
also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by
faith.”

The spiral of depravity justly deserves God’s punishment and
condemnation, but God – who is rich in mercy – has granted a
pardon to the fallen sons of Adam. He has meted out the punishment we
deserve in His own Son, Jesus. By faith in that, we can be cleansed
from our past sins and stand justified before our Creator. The gospel
of Christ is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who
believes.” The choice is ours – stand condemned for the deeds
committed in the flesh or to have them judged in God’s chosen
Substitute. Heaven or hell waits for all people and there is only one
way to heaven, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Life application: The old cliché “love the sinner, hate the sin”
rings true. We have all fallen short of God’s standards and all
people have stood condemned before Him. But in His mercy, He sent
Jesus to take the wrath we justly deserve. Therefore, let us continue
to pray for and be a light to others who have yet to receive His
indescribable gift.

Lord
God, over the past few verses, I have seen my own sin reflected again
and again in the words Paul has written. As they were inspired by
You, I feel the weight of them even more. I am so thankful for the
rich mercy You have lavished upon me and the salvation that came at
such a high cost. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Therefore
you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in
whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge
practice the same things.
Romans 2:1

In what is a masterpiece of subtlety, Paul now begins to address the
Jews though he doesn’t specifically state as much until verse 17.
The reason for this is to build an argument to such an extent that by
the time he actually names them, they have no way to turn back and
claim innocence.

The natural revelation of God has been given to all men (Romans
1:18-32) and condemns all, how much more then the very stewards of
God’s special revelation of Himself, the oracles of God, the
temple, the glory? The Jews looked at the people around them as
heathen and outside of the graces of God. This is perfectly evident
from innumerable passages in the gospels. But Paul says that they are
inexcusable when they judge because when they do, they merely condemn
themselves. The very acts for which they find fault in others are
found openly displayed in their own writings about themselves. These
acts led to the Babylonian exile, further written condemnation after
the exile, the crucifixion of Christ, and eventually the Roman
dispersion.

To understand that this concept surely applies to all men, even the
greatest and beloved of God, we will refer to 2 Samuel 12 and the
pitiful story of David’s great sin –

Then
the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him:
“There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The
rich man
had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man
had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and
nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It
ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom;
and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich
man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to
prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took
the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to
him.” So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and
he said to Nathan, “As
the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he
shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and
because he had no pity. Then Nathan said to David, “You are
the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king
over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you
your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping,
and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that
had been too little, I also would
have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of
the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite
with the sword; you have taken his wife to
be your wife, and have killed him
with the sword of the people of Ammon. 2 Samuel 12:1-9

The “man after God’s own heart” coveted, committed adultery,
and committed murder, and yet he was willing to condemn someone else
for something far less serious. Such is the nature of sin in the
human heart. It affects all people and it blinds each of us in a way
that what we perceive in others often seems more wicked than what we
ourselves have done, even when our actions may be much more heinous.

John 8:1-12 gives a similar example for us to consider. Take time
today to read that passage and reflect on why the account is given as
well.

Life application: It is true; the Jewish people of Paul’s time were
actually more accountable for their actions because they had the Law
and the Prophets to tell them what God specifically expected from
mankind. As this is so, how much more accountable to God are we now
that the New Testament is also written? The word is near to us, it is
in our homes, on our computers, and broadcast on radio and TV. How
can we escape God’s wrath if we neglect so great a salvation as is
offered through Jesus? Read your Bible daily and then live out your
life in accord with its precepts.

Heavenly
Father, reading today’s verse and thinking on what it is telling me
makes me realize the magnitude of what You have done by sending
Jesus. How far short of Your glory I fall and yet You have offered me
peace and reconciliation through His cross. I stand amazed at the
greatness of what You have done for Your rebellious creatures. Thank
You, O God, Amen.

But
we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
who practice such things. Romans 2:2

“But
we know” implies that it is perfectly understood by all. It is
written on our minds as an undeniable truth. More so then is it
understood by the Jews who had the written testimony of the history
of the world and the repeated lessons which resulted from the
disobedient heart of man. God’s word, maintained by them, holds one
account after another of the judgment of God upon man’s
disobedience.

This
“judgment of God is according to truth.” This can be interpreted
a couple ways. The first is that God’s judgment will truly come; it
is inevitable based on our walking in a way contrary to His precepts.
The second view, which is more likely correct, is that God’s
judgment is based on the truth. In Him there is only holiness and
perfection. There is no unrighteousness and there is also nothing
capricious or vindictive. His judgment is based upon His perfection
and not some type of personal vendetta or arbitrary whim. People who
feel this way about Him have never taken the time to deduce what God
is like. Instead, they simply accuse Him of being as a cosmic bully
or an uncaring Creator who allows innocent children to die for no
sound reason. They are awash in their own myopic vision, dispelling
any notion of an infinitely wise Creator.

God’s
judgment comes “according to truth against those who practice such
things.” All judgment is a result of sin and it is directed against
the perpetrators of that sin. The list Paul gives in the previous
chapter defines these things. But what about those who seem to be
caught in judgment but haven’t done anything wrong? There are two
directions that must be considered. The first is that “all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” Sin came
through Adam and all have inherited his fallen state. Therefore, no
one can claim they are guilt-free. This is confirmed by Jesus’
words in John 3:18 –

“He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already,…”

Man
is condemned already and therefore there is no valid argument against
God’s judgment on any person. But secondly, some are taken away
that are a part of the covenant community and have been cleansed of
their past sins. Why has evil come upon them? The answer can be found
in Isaiah 57:1 –

“The
righteous perishes,
And no man takes it to
heart;
Merciful men are taken away,
While no one
considers
That the righteous is taken away from evil.”

What
we may perceive as some type of judgment may actually be God’s
grace in saving them from something worse which may occur. We don’t
have all the information and therefore we must trust that what we
don’t see is still the right avenue and is based on His perfect
knowledge.

Life
application: When we look at the course of life, politics, world
events, etc. we should attempt to see them in the larger scope of
things and not have a myopic view of what is happening. When we
relate everything that occurs around us to ourselves, we will never
understand why things transpire and we will naturally take offense.
But we… we are not the center of the universe. We are a small speck
of God’s immense plan which is being worked out for our good and
for His glory. Keep this in mind and trust that He truly is in
control.

Heavenly
Father, give me soundness of mind as I look at the world around me.
Help me to understand that You are just in Your judgment and that You
carry it out in absolute righteousness and against an ultimate
standard of truth. With this assurance, I can be confident that all
things will work out as they should. Amen.

And
do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things,
and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?Romans 2:3

This
is a direct question from Paul to the Jews of his day. There is a
definite train of thought since verse 1.

1)
When a person condemns another it proves they have a sense that an
offense was committed. If the one who condemns knows this and passes
judgment but also commits the offense, then they have no excuse for
their actions.

2)
God’s judgment on those who commit transgressions is based on His
nature – He is absolute truth and therefore His judgment is perfect
and must be executed equally in all. As Habakkuk says so clearly –

You
are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on
wickedness. Habakkuk 1:13

3)
Therefore, because the person who condemns does so when they know an
action is wrong, and yet they commit the same type of actions, how
can they expect to escape God’s judgment? It would be unthinkable
based on the standard of truth which defines who He is.

The
Jew standing in judgment of the gentile actually condemns himself in
his decision! What brought about his accusation of them – God’s
law, of which he was the steward – is what brings his own
condemnation. The Jew is without excuse.

However
a point that should not be missed is that as time has passed, the
question now appropriately belongs to the Christian as well. When
Israel was exiled for their disobedience and rejection of Christ, the
gentile world became the stewards not only of God’s Old Testament
law, but the Gospel of Christ as well. Now, the logic of verses 1-3
which Paul writes points a finger directly at the Church. How can we
stand in judgment of others if we fail to first pronounce the gospel?
If we keep it a secret and yet condemn others for being heathen or
unconverted Jews, then aren’t we “doing the same?”

Later
in Romans 11, we will come upon this passage which is speaking of the
mystery of Jewish exile and the grafting in of the Church –

“For
as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy
through their disobedience, even so these also have now been
disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain
mercy.For God has committed them all to disobedience,
that He might have mercy on all.” (vss. 30-32)

We
err if we point our fingers at the Jews and say how stupid they are
for having rejected the Lord and His cross. Were that not to have
happened, the church as we know it would never have come into
existence. But God, in his infinite wisdom, blinded them in part so
that salvation might come to the gentile people of the world. Let us
not be so arrogant against our unbelieving Jewish brethren, but let
us pray for them and pray for their eyes to be opened to the glorious
gospel which saves all men.

Life
application: The times are coming to their fulfillment and Jesus
Christ’s return is closer each day. By Jesus’ own words He has
promised to return to His people Israel and to their capital,
Jerusalem. The Church Age will end and then will come the Tribulation
period. At the end of that time, Jesus will return to set up His
millennial kingdom from Jerusalem. Let your daily prayers reflect a
desire for Israel’s eyes to be opened to their long-rejected
Messiah, Jesus.

Heavenly
Father, I hate the sin and wickedness in this world and I will
continue to speak out against it, but please help me to remember that
I once also walked in darkness and yet You had mercy on me. Help me
to avoid the sins of the flesh and to help others to put them behind
themselves as well. Thank You for Jesus who makes all these things
possible. Amen.

Or
do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance? Romans 2:4

An
alternative to what was just presented is now given – “Or.”
Paul has been speaking about those who condemn others and yet are
guilty of practicing the very sins which they condemn in them. And so
he asks, “Or do you despise…?” This is in the indicative mood
and therefore it requires the answer, “Yes, in fact you do.”

The
idea is that these people had been shown the unmerited favor of God
and yet “despised” it by becoming ungrateful of it and even
expecting that it should continue because they somehow deserved it.
This is the sentiment of Luke 13:1-5 and which Jesus forcefully
corrects –

“There
were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus
answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans
were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they
suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will
all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam
fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than
all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but
unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’”

Those
who came to Him intimated that the Galileans must have been pretty
big sinners to have Pilate mingle their blood with his sacrifices.
Jesus turned around and brought their fallen state to mind. God had
been abundant in His riches to them and they had trampled on this
grace by expecting it to continue on ad infinitum regardless of their
conduct.

America
has had this attitude for far too long. Because we have been so
richly blessed, when calamity falls (such as 911) we try to project
it on the wickedness of others and not look at it as deserved
judgment. Anyone who speaks out against our moral impurity is sure to
get an earful from those who either dismiss the judgment of God or
who only see their own perceived moral flawlessness and not a nation
ripe for God’s punishing hand.

The
“riches of” God Paul notes are His 1) “goodness” – this is
His benign nature. He is a compassionate God who is in no way
arbitrary or vindictive; 2) His “forbearance” – this reflects
God’s restraint. When judgment would be expected under almost any
conceivable circumstance, He still withholds His wrath, understanding
that we are prone to sin from birth; and 3) because of His
forbearance, He is also “long-suffering.” This concept shows that
not only does He withhold His wrath, but He is also “slow to anger”
as is noted in Exodus 34:6, 7 –

“And
the Lord passed before
him and proclaimed, “The Lord,
the Lord God, merciful
and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and
sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the
third and the fourth generation.”

These
are the riches which the people were despising. They looked at the
world around them as fallen and ripe for judgment and yet they
thought they had a free pass to act in the same manner with no
expected repercussions. But Paul says that these riches of His
goodness were meant not to promote license, but to lead them to
repentance. He will take this concept and refine it in the chapters
ahead. In chapter 6, we will read this –

“What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
(vss. 1, 2) God’s grace is shown in the goodness of His riches, so
why can’t we continue to sin in order for His grace to be seen in
an even greater light? This is the perverse nature of man – looking
for a way to excuse or even justify that which is contrary to normal
order, right thinking, and holy living. Let us never presume upon the
goodness of the Lord in this manner!

Life
application: Do you look at yourself as of high value? Do you
perceive others as sinful whereas you are guilt-free? What about the
society in which you live. Has prosperity led you to believe that you
are God’s favored and chosen and that you can therefore act in any
way you wish? Let us never assume that we can flagrantly sin and be
excused when we do.

Heavenly
Father, surely You are great and glorious – abundant in mercy and
kindness towards us. Help me to see the sin in my own life for what
it is and to never assume that I am above Your hand of correction.
Instead give me a willing and obedient heart in following the proper
path which You would desire for me. Amen.

But
in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation
of the righteous judgment of God,… Romans 2:5

Verses
1-4 have laid out the argument for deserved judgment for those who
should know better based on the nature of God that was revealed in
the previous chapter. Verse 4 then said, “Or do you despise the
riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Verse 5 now
begins with “but.” This is to contrast an acceptance of the
“goodness of God.”

“In
accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart” shows that
instead of softening one’s heart and their stand on sin, they take
the alternate course. The heart is hard and unyielding even in the
presence of the mercy God offers, the blessings He provides, and the
election He made. The Jew had received all these things and yet they
walked heavily upon the good graces that were granted. The Greek term
for “impenitent heart” is used only in this verse in the New
Testament and it reveals the height and epitome of unrepentant sin.

As
noted in verse 2:3, this same logic must now apply to the Church. We
have likewise been grafted in to the commonwealth and have received
the same goodness. But how many in the church flagrantly tread
heavily upon these graces? This despicable attitude, in Jew or
gentile, can only have one logical outcome – we are “treasuring
up” wrath for ourselves.

We
treasure up things that we desire the most. We may treasure up family
photos. If we love sports, we may treasure up memorabilia. If we love
money, we may treasure up silver and gold. We put these things in
store because they are precious to us and they have our heart buried
with them. Paul is saying that those who fit this verse’s
description are “treasuring up wrath.” Based on his argument thus
far, we know – without a doubt – that wrath is due for our
belligerence and uncaring attitude toward the sins we commit. But we
continue down the same path, actually storing up more and more of
God’s wrath, knowingly and willingly.

This
will be poured out “in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God.” It is not a question of “if” but of
“when.” The things that God abhors based on His unchanging nature
of goodness, justice, righteousness, etc. must be judged and it will
come out in a terrifying way when it does. The cross of Jesus Christ
proves it. The horror which He suffered to remove our judgment is
reflective of what all people deserve. Therefore, it can be meted out
in Him as our Substitute or it will be meted out in each of us
directly. No other option exists and the judgment is final.

For
those who have trusted Christ, the punishment is past. Judgment for
the believer will be based on their life after accepting Christ –
for rewards or losses (see Romans 14:10 & 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10).
For all others, there is but one possibility – a finite crime
against an infinite God requires an infinite punishment – the Lake
of Fire. This will be executed in all remaining humanity as is noted
in Revelation 20:11-15.

Life
application: What treasures are you storing up? In the end, there is
only one thing of eternal value, a relationship with your Creator.
And this is only possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Treasure up for yourselves the knowledge of Him by reading your Bible
each day, talking to Him each moment, and sharing Him with others
always. This is true treasure; this is Jesus.

O
God, You have shown us what is right and good and You have offered us
peace and reconciliation to Yourself through Jesus. Help us to pursue
You and to know You more and more. Thank You for Your word which
allows us to know You, and thank You for Your Holy Spirit who
illuminates our hearts and minds to its content. Amen.

…
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
Romans 2:6

Care
needs to be taken when looking at today’s verse and the verses that
follow lest error come into our thinking about the nature of
salvation or condemnation. If these verses are taken out of proper
biblical context, one could make the case that “deeds” somehow
affect our standing before God; that what we do brings about
our justification. This is contrary to the entire tenor of Scripture
and is not at all what Paul is speaking of. However, this has led to
heresy within the church and in many denominations. Below will be
listed several of the actual canons from the Council of Trent in
1546. These are antithetical to the intent of Scripture and are
actually heretical, but yet they are primary theological tenets of
the Roman Catholic Church.

Although
you may not fully understand each of these, it is good to know what
denominations teach. Does their instruction line up with the Bible or
not? If not, is it merely error or is heresy involved? These are
actually eternity-deciding principles concerning salvation if they
involve heresy.

What
Paul is saying is in today’s verse (in context with the surrounding
verses and the rest of Scripture) is that we are either justified or
condemned by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:4) by calling
on the name of the Lord for salvation (Romans 10:9 &13). When
this occurs, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit which is a “deposit”
or “guarantee” of our eternal state (Ephesians 1:13, 14).
However, our “deeds” will determine our amount of rewards, or
what loss we will suffer, if saved (2 Corinthians 5:9, 10), or they
will determine our level of punishment when condemned (Luke
12:42-48).

The
equation for each person to remember is:

Grace
through faith = salvation

Works
= judgment

The
judgment of the believer is a judgment after salvation (which, once
granted, is eternal) based on works. These works have no part in
further justifying a person; justification comes by the work of
Christ alone. The judgment of the non-believer comes based on the
life they lived, having never been saved.

Life
application: Take time to read the following canons which are still
in force and effect today in the Roman Catholic Church and see if
they are complimentary or contradictory to the teachings of
Scripture. After doing so, ensure that you obtain, study, and
comprehend the principle tenets of your own church or denomination.
You may be surprised, or even appalled, at what your time, talent,
and money is being directed towards. You alone are accountable for
your actions and allegiances. It is far better for you to remove
yourself from a body which promotes tenets contradictory to God’s
will than it is to stay because of friendships, alliances, or
convenience. These are either eternity-making decisions concerning
your salvation if heresy is involved, or decisions which will affect
your rewards and losses for all eternity if non-heretical doctrinal
error is involved. Stand fast on Jesus Christ and His word.

Canon
10. If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified;
in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate
in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is
not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the
movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

Canon
11. If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole
imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of
sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured
forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or
even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour of
God; let him be anathema.
Canon 12. If any one saith, that
justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy
which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone
is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.

Canon
23: "lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no
more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was
never truly justified; or, on the other hand, that he is able, during
his whole life, to avoid all sins, even those that are venial,-
except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard
of the Blessed Virgin; let him be anathema."

Canon
24: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not
preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that
the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification
obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be
anathema."

Canon
30: "If any one saith, that, after the grace of
Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt
is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in
such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to
be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory,
before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him);
let him be anathema."

Canon
33: "If any one saith, that, by the Catholic doctrine
touching Justification, by this holy Synod inset forth in this
present decree, the glory of God, or the merits of our Lord Jesus
Christ are in any way derogated from, and not rather that the truth
of our faith, and the glory in fine of God and of Jesus Christ are
rendered (more) illustrious; let him be anathema.

Lord
God, please direct me to an understanding of what my particular
church or denomination teaches and then help me to make a right
decision about my affiliation with it based on the knowledge You have
led me to. Keep me from error and help my doctrine to be perfect in
Your sight. To Your glory alone I pray this. Amen.

…eternal
life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality; Romans 2:7

As
noted in verse 6, care needs to be taken when evaluating this train
of thought from Paul. If this verse, which is a part of a greater
whole, is quoted as a stand-alone, then of course one would come to
the conclusion that, “Aha, eternal life is based upon works.”
This is contrary to the scope and reality of Scripture because after
salvation, many have fallen – even such greats as Peter and Paul.
Peter, in Galatians 2:11-16, was not “straightforward about the
truth of the gospel.” In essence, he failed to endure. Paul
admitted his failings as well –

“Who
is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not
inwardly burn?” (NIV)

We
are bound by our human limitations even after salvation and
therefore, if it were up to us to receive eternal life, then we would
go through a terrible cycle of uncertainty as our relationship with
God changed back and forth – saved, unsaved, saved, unsaved, saved,
unsaved, saved….” What a neurotic bunch who call themselves
Christians! And, how pitiful – woe to the one who happened to error
prior to his final call home, “I knew you, and then I never knew
you…!”

The
great Bible scholar Albert Barnes erringly states this – “Nor has
God ever promised eternal life to people unless they so persevere in
a life of holiness as to show that this is their character…”

This
is incorrect as is evidence by 2 Peter 1:1-9 and which culminates in
verse 9. In verse 1, Peter states that those he is addressing have
“obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our
God and Savior Jesus Christ.” In other words, they are saved
believers. He then explains what that can mean for the called
soul in verse 3 and 4. However, in verses 5-8, he states what the
individual should do and which is what Paul is referring to in
todays verse in Romans 2:7. If one fails to carefully follow what is
God’s intent and desire for His saved children, the result is verse
9 – “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to
blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

Yes,
there are those who have been saved and yet they “have forgotten”
that they were “cleansed from” their old sins! One cannot
continue “in doing good” in the biblical sense if they have
forgotten their salvation. Therefore, eternal life is granted exactly
as the rest of the Bible proclaims, by grace through faith. Abraham
was declared righteous by simple faith prior to the sign of that
righteousness (circumcision). Jesus Himself says that it is belief
that saves –

“For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

Paul’s
continued writing in Romans will bear this out as well. Understanding
this, “those who by patient continuance in doing good” is
speaking of rewards as was noted in verse 6; God will “render to
each one according to his deeds.” These deeds are to result in:

1)
Glory – This includes praise, high note, and what is renowned for
that which is beautiful, majestic, splendid, etc. It is the highest
point of exultation and could be considered as the greatest pomp and
pageantry that God could bestow upon His creatures. This glory will
be in a state which excludes anything which is lowly or base.

2)
Honor – is the conferring of title and position in the heavenly
realm for the deeds of righteousness. There will be varying degrees
of honor just as there are varying degrees in the brightness of the
stars. Each will be bestowed to commend the level of faithfulness
exhibited. And yet, there will be no jealousy or contempt between
conferrals. All will be rewarded with a filled cup, but the cup will
be of varying size. No one will be dissatisfied with their
overflowing container.

3)
Immortality – This is the life which man was authorized to
participate in at the beginning and which he lost. Never again will
the redeemed face corruption, death, and returning to the earth.
There will be no sickness or sadness in this state; only eternal
felicity.

Life
application: Rewards will come to all of God’s redeemed based on
the level of progression they follow which is noted in 2 Peter 1. For
those who forget their salvation in this earthly walk, God never
will. They will be granted eternal life based on the faith they
exercised which pleased God enough to call them His own, but the
rewards will be fewer and of less magnitude. Let us each strive to
please God with our lives now and not be “shortsighted, even to
blindness.” May the Lord bestow upon you the fullness of His
riches.

Lord,
I know that even the greats of the faith, men personally selected by
You, fell short of perfection. How much more do I! Help me to stand
fast in my salvation and proceed willingly in my pursuit of Your
kingdom. Use me to Your honor and Your glory O God. Amen.

…but
to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,… Romans 2:8

This
verse is in contrast to that of verse 7 as indicated by the word
“but.” If you will note though, in verse 7 Paul begins with the
positive benefit “eternal life” and then explains the “who”
and the “how” next. It is obtained for those who “by patient
continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.”
However, in verse 8, he gives the “who” and the “how” first –
it is “to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but
unrighteousness.” Only then does he give the negative result –
“indignation and wrath.”

In
this structure, it seems that Paul wants to show that God truly wants
to lavish His benefits upon those who are willing to accept them,
however and in contrast, He is longsuffering with those who act
contrary to His will, but there is an end to His patience.

Those
who are “self-seeking” can also be rendered “contentious. The
Greek translation of the Old Testament renders this same word as
“rebellious” in Deuteronomy 21:20 –

And
they shall say to the elders of his city, “This son of ours is
stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton
and a drunkard.”

These
people have a will directed toward themselves and which is at
contention with God. They hate his divine will and exercise their
thoughts, actions, and attitudes against Him. What God detests, such
as abortion, sexual perversion, or disobedience to parents is what
they pursue, simply because they want to cast off His rule and
authority. They are unwilling to “obey the truth” and so they
work out their own set of guidelines for living and conducting their
affairs. Instead of pursuing the divine will, they “obey
unrighteousness.” In this, they yield to sin and let it consume
them.

This,
of course, fits most people to some degree, but this is speaking of
those who stubbornly knock on sin’s door and allow it lead their
steps. Instead of light, they live by darkness. For those who pursue
this path, there is but one end – “indignation and wrath.” This
phrase comes from the Greek thumos kai orge. This is an
expression of God’s actual hatred of sin which results in the
outpouring of His anger as is displayed in divine judgment. The
“indignation” indicates what we would perceive as internal –
the thing which displeases God. The “wrath” then is the
manifestation of that displeasure in His action.

Those
who act contrary to God may think that they have the upper hand or
free reign to snub Him, but as it says in Hebrews 10:31, “It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” In the
end, there will only be terror for those who fail to repent and bow
the knee before the Creator.

Life
application: God has shown us what leads to life and happiness and
what leads to death and condemnation. He has done it through nature
and He has further shown us in His word. Take time to meditate upon
what you perceive as morally right and morally wrong and then compare
it to His word. If there is a conflict between the two, then it is
you who needs to adjust. God is clear, but we often misunderstand.

Lord
God, thank You for Your tender mercies and thank You for showing us
the right path to follow. When we stray, show us where and how and
then help us to get back on track. Surely You are longsuffering
towards us and we can only praise You for this. When we deserved
judgment, You sent us Jesus! Thank You, O God! Amen.

…tribulation
and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and
also of the Greek; Romans 2:9

This
verse continues the anticipated rewards for the deeds mentioned in
the previous verse – “but to those who are self-seeking and do
not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and
wrath.” The consequences of unrepentant sin are two-fold –
suffering in this life and suffering in the next life.

Along
with “indignation and wrath” comes “tribulation.” This is the
word thlipsis and the verb carries the sense of pressing, such
as when crushing grapes. This then is the pressure and despair which
occurs after sin is committed – perhaps getting an incurable
disease resulting from sexual immorality. This would be magnified if
the sinner passed that on to loved ones. Another example may be
receiving a death sentence for committing a crime. The pressure of
what is coming becomes an overwhelming and crushing misery.

The
word “anguish” comes from the Greek stenochoria. This is a
word used exclusively by Paul and comes from two different words –
stenos meaning “narrow” and chora meaning “space.”
The thought here might be something like being buried alive in a
coffin. There is no room to move and only complete anguish of the
soul. Edgar Allen Poe, a master of understanding the terrors of the
human mind, wrote these words in The Premature Burial –

“And
now, amid all my infinite miseries, came sweetly the cherub Hope --
for I thought of my precautions. I writhed, and made spasmodic
exertions to force open the lid: it would not move. I felt my wrists
for the bell-rope: it was not to be found. And now the Comforter fled
for ever, and a still sterner Despair reigned triumphant; for I could
not help perceiving the absence of the paddings which I had so
carefully prepared -- and then, too, there came suddenly to my
nostrils the strong peculiar odor of moist earth. The conclusion was
irresistible. I was not within the vault. I had fallen into a trance
while absent from home-while among strangers -- when, or how, I could
not remember -- and it was they who had buried me as a dog -- nailed
up in some common coffin -- and thrust deep, deep, and for ever, into
some ordinary and nameless grave.

As
this awful conviction forced itself, thus, into the innermost
chambers of my soul, I once again struggled to cry aloud. And in this
second endeavor I succeeded. A long, wild, and continuous shriek, or
yell of agony, resounded through the realms of the subterranean
Night.”

This
anguish of eternal hopelessness is the just and due penalty for
“every soul of man who does evil.” The opposite is reflected in
the Bible as well. In David’s writings he uses the terminology
several times to reflect what can be expected for those who trust in
the Lord. Instead of a narrow confinement there will be ease of
movement in spacious places –

I
called on the Lord in
distress;
The Lord
answered me and set me in a broad place.
The Lordis on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to
me? Psalm 118: 5, 6

And
yet, in what is the most ironic twist of all, Jesus tells us that to
reach the broad spaces of salvation, there is only a narrow gate.
Likewise, to be sentenced to the torturous confines of eternity apart
from God, there is a wide and easy path one may tread –

“Enter
by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by
it.Because narrow is the gate and difficult is
the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew
7:13, 14

In
the end, the choice is up to each of us and it includes all people,
“of the Jew first and also of the Gentile.”

Life
application: Is eternal confinement and misery worth a moment of sin?
It is by far better to confine oneself now in this life than to lack
in our eternal home. And it is surely better to reject the broad and
spacious life of sin in order to gain eternal release in a paradise
of glory. As you walk through life today, consider that each choice
bears eternal consequences. Even if you are saved, your rewards will
be lessened by following the wrong path now. Stay in tune with the
Spirit and allow Him to fill you and guide you.

Glorious
Lord God Almighty! What an amazing thing You have done by offering us
the choice to pursue You now in a narrow and restricted way in order
to receive the eternally expansive glories of heaven. You look for
those with the faith to perceive this and to thus choose Jesus. Help
me to pick up my cross daily and follow where He leads. Amen.

…but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what
is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 2:10

This
verse, beginning with “but,” is set in contrast to verses 8 and
9. There are those who “are self-seeking and do not obey the
truth.” They will receive “indignation and wrath, tribulation and
anguish” whereas those who work “what is good” will receive an
abundance of blessing. Paul defines their rewards as “glory, honor,
and peace.” This is a partial repetition of verse 7 which exchanges
the word “immortality” with “peace.” The two concepts do meet
in thought and support each other.

Immortality
is “the life which man was authorized to participate in at the
beginning and which he lost. Never again will the redeemed face
corruption, death, and returning to the earth. There will be no
sickness or sadness in this state; only eternal felicity.” This
corresponds with the idea of peace quite well. Paul was a Hebrew. To
them peace had a much fuller meaning than it does to the Greek and
western mind. It is more than just a state of calm or
quiet. Rather it signifies wholeness and completion in all ways. This
was the original intent for man and it is fully realized in our
acceptance of Jesus and moving from death to life.

This however brings up the need for clarification concerning works
verses faith. This was explained in 2:6 but will be expanded on now.
We are saved and receive these things by faith in Christ and His work
alone. Our “works” then are only of value after savlvation and
are used to determine our level of reward. Someone outside of Him, no
matter how diligent in good works, can never receive these promises
because they are a child of wrath by nature. Paul explains this in
Ephesians 2:1-3 –

“And
you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now
works in the sons of disobedience,among whom also we all
once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of
wrath, just as the others.”

Prior
to Christ, man is at enmity with God and deeds – even supposedly
“good” deeds only increase that wrath. The reason for this is
that by trusting in one’s own deeds it becomes a form of
self-idolatry, something which only increases guilt. Any
non-Christian philanthropist will make a good example. They give
money and effort to causes – AIDS for example – in order to make
the world a better place, or to perhaps help their fellow man. This
brings about personal satisfaction and, of course, applause from man.
But it failed to address the sin problem which already existed. The
favor rests not with God but with man, and in particular – self.

Man
must come to Christ first in order to be justified before God. Only
when the wrath at sin is dealt with (in the body of Jesus) can the
works merit favor and reward. The result is the “peace” Paul
announces in today’s verse. Reconciliation with God through Jesus
should lead us to accomplish works of righteousness leading to glory,
honor, and peace. Peter notes the time when this will be fully
realized –

“…and
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that does not fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4

Life
application: Are you saved and just waiting on your glorification
without living a full and abundant life of works for Christ? Or are
you actively participating in doing those things which will bring Him
glory now and that will bring you rewards when He appears? This life
is our one chance to work for our eternal rewards. We save money in
banks for the future, we go to college for the future, we buy
insurance for the future… how much more should we add to our
heavenly account then. Be wise with the time you have been given and
determine to accomplish your works for that which will never perish.

Lord
God, give me wisdom to effectively use the gifts You have blessed me
with and not squander them for that which is only temporary. Help me
to do what is right and good in Your eyes and which will bring
everlasting rewards. Thank You for Your guiding hand upon me. Amen.

For
there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11

This
verse begins with “for” and is being used as a confirmation of
the previous thought which twice stated “first for the Jew, then
for the Gentile.” The anticipated wrath of God or favor of God
comes equally upon all. There is no consideration of the outer
appearance of the jar, but rather the favor lies with what is in it;
God is not superficial in His judgments, but determines the value of
the contents rather than the showiness of what is externally
apparent.

This
thought permeates the Bible and yet it is often misunderstood, by
both the Jew because of his heritage and by the church member who has
entered into some denomination, sect, or cult and thus believes he
has been elevated to an especially favorable standing with God
because of that affiliation.

In
Deuteronomy 1:17, we find that God expects our judgments to be fair
and without partiality and the reason for that is given –

“You
shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as
well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence,
for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for
you, bring to me, and I will hear it.”

All
judgment is ultimately God’s, so when we pervert justice, we
slander His name by our actions. God sets the standards and they are
universal in scope and thus they should be in application as well.
James clearly defines our responsibilities in this matter and how to
carry them out –

“My
brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord
of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your
assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should
also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to
the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a
good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or,
“Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among
yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4

Having
considered this, it must be noted that judgment and placement
are not the same thing, but as the world is running towards ever more
liberal thinking the two categories become confused. God does not
show favoritism in His judgments of us, but as the sovereign Creator
He has the right to place people in various locations and at any
point in time. Therefore, they may be brought into the world in
unequal status economically, socially, etc. These choices are at His
discretion and do not imply partiality or favoritism. The founding
fathers of America understood this when they penned these words –

“We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed…”

The
founders did not say that all have the “right” to happiness, but
that all have the right to pursue it. Owning a house is to be a
pursuit, not a judgment. Feeding oneself is a product of placement
and opportunity, not a universal right which is the responsibility of
others. In other words, if a person is in a place where food won’t
grow, it is their responsibility to move and work with their hands to
grow it or purchase it from a supply line based on money earned from
another vocation. Confusing these lines actually moves us away from
what God ordains.

Life
application: God doesn’t show favoritism in His judgments and He
asks us to act likewise. However, God places us according to His
wisdom and expects us to live within that placement or pick up and
move to action based on the abilities He has made us with. Take time
today to think clearly on moral and social responsibilities and don’t
let the lines of your thinking become confused, lest it lead you to
find fault in God where no fault exists.

Lord
Jesus, help me to think clearly on issues which often become confused
in our society. Give me the wisdom to stand on what is morally right
and to hold fast to that. But Lord, also help me to see Your
sovereign hand in the workings of the world and the placement of the
peoples – all which are leading to Your end goals for us. Amen.

For
as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and
as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law…
Romans 2:12

Today’s
verse begins an amazingly sobering thought concerning the nature of
man, our relationship with God as fallen creatures, and our desperate
need to “get the word out” to the people of the world.

The
thought begins with “for.” This begins a confirmation of what has
been previously stated. To understand the context, take a moment to
review verses 1-11. “For as many as have sinned without law” is
speaking about the entire scope of the people of the world who had
not yet received God’s law as given to the nation of Israel. The
words “without law” are translated from anomos, the a
is negative and nomos is speaking of the law given through
Moses to Israel.

This
is the world at large and is speaking of all people since the
beginning of the world. They “will also perish without law.” How
can this be? If there is no law to instruct the people, then how can
they be condemned? Where is the fairness in this? These are the often
asked and obvious questions of the people of the world. “It’s not
fair!” But this is making the assumption that there is no standard
at all by which we can be judged. Paul showed in the previous chapter
and will show in the coming verses that there is a universally
understood “law” that is written on our conscience.

A
major premise of the Bible is that man is fallen. In order to
reconcile this, God has worked through several “dispensations” to
show us that fallen state and our need for Jesus. Each of these
dispensations leads us to a new understanding of our corrupt nature
and our deserved condemnation before His glorious perfection. Jesus
confirms this fallen state in John 3:18 –

“He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.”

As
He notes, we are “condemned already.” Fallen man needs to do
nothing to go to hell; he is already on that road. What He needs is
an avenue of escape from that path. This is the plan of salvation as
the Bible reveals and which ultimately takes us to Jesus and the
cross of Calvary. Along that path, God introduced the law. This
period is one of the dispensations God gave the world. It shows us
His standards and what man can do to live by them. Paul explains
though that no one can meet its standards perfectly (Romans 3:19,
20). Even the law itself shows us this by offering the Day of
Atonement – a needed cup of grace found each year in the midst of
an ocean of works. Without the Day of Atonement, the law merely
condemns those under the law.

The
second half of today’s verse shows us this – “…as many as
have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.” This is the fair
and equitable standard to which the Jew (whom Paul has been
addressing) could find no place to object. They were the recipients
and bearers of God’s law and they lorded their position of favor
over those who didn’t possess the law. And yet, the very law they
felt favored them is actually what brought about stricter judgment
and greater condemnation.

In
essence, and as Paul will explain in his writings, the law was given
to demonstrate two great lessons to the world –

1)
To show us how utterly sinful sin is to God – “Has then what is
good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear
sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin
through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.” Romans
7:13

2)
To show fallen man his desperate need for something better, something
apart from the law, something without which there is no hope – “Is
the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there
had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness
would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under
sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to
those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by
the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we
might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no
longer under a tutor.” Galatians 3:21-25

The
law is a tutor which was meant to take us by the hand and lead us
directly to our need for God’s unmerited favor, His grace, His
mercy… His Son, our Lord Jesus.

Life
application: Are you trusting in deeds of the flesh to obtain God’s
favor? If so, turn away from this mindset and the futility it
produces and come to God’s Fountain of grace – Jesus. Place your
faith and trust in Him alone for your salvation and then accomplish
works which will demonstrate the change that has taken place in you.
And be sure to tell others about what God has done. All are under a
sentence of condemnation and all need Jesus.

Lord
God, when I contemplate the grace that You have poured out on me, I
stand in awe. What You have done is so far above my comprehension
that my mind cannot grasp it. Thank You for Your love, Your grace,
and Your mercy – all displayed in the giving of Your Son for me.
Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

…(for
not the hearers of the law are just in the sight
of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; Romans 2:13

We
are continuing on with a series of verses which need to be looked at
from a broad scope of Scripture and not as individual, stand-alone,
thoughts. If we take these verses and cite them without proper
context, a completely wrong conclusion of what Paul is actually
trying to tell us will be derived. What he says here in verse 13
ought to be obvious in the plain sense. If you only hear the law and
don’t do what the law says, the law is of no value at all.

To
understand this, just think of a sign by the train tracks, “Stay
off the tracks when a train is approaching.” The people who live in
the area have this law, just as Israel had the law. But then one guy
in town (a real smart fellow) decides to take his family for a stroll
on Sunday… on the tracks. Obviously being one who has the law
posted was of no value to him and his family, and yes, the funeral is
Tuesday at 10am.

James
writes similar words in his epistle as well – “But be doers of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.For
if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
observing his natural face in a mirror;for he observes
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues
in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work,
this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25

The
law, which is only a portion of the word, has a particular part and
purpose in God’s redemptive plan, but that purpose ended at the
cross of Jesus. In Matthew 5:17, it notes that Jesus came not to
destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. And fulfill
them He did. They are now set aside in Christ (Hebrews 10:9).

The
point that needs to be more carefully evaluated is what the law
itself says in Leviticus 18:5, “You shall therefore keep My
statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by
them: I am the Lord.”
Paul quotes this verse twice, once in Romans 10:5 and then again in
Galatians 3:11, 12. He states that “no one is justified by the law
in the sight of God.” So what is he talking about in today’s
verse? Is Paul confused? No. The reason is that the law, just like
all of God’s dealings with man, is ultimately based on faith, not
works.

The
law itself requires works, but they are works which demonstrate to us
our inability to meet the very law on which the works are based. As
was noted in evaluating the previous verse, the law was given to show
us the utterly sinful nature of sin and to lead us to seek out God’s
mercy and forgiveness. The law itself shows us this in the book of
Habakkuk –

“Behold
the proud,

His
soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his
faith.” (vs. 2:4)

Therefore,
what Paul is saying today is not that the law justifies a person or
can justify a person, only that the “doers of the law will be
justified.” And, none except Jesus are truly “doers of the law”
unless they are living by faith.

So
here we have the resolution: The law was given and no one can meet
its standards perfectly. Therefore faith is required that despite not
meeting it God will provide salvation to those who will trust in Him
and not in themselves; self-reliance in meeting the deeds of the law
is not trusting in God, but in self. Then Jesus came to fulfill the
law we cannot fulfill. Now, by faith in His accomplishing the law and
then becoming our sin-offering at the cross, we now stand justified
before God. It is faith in God’s providence at all times and in all
dispensations which reconcile us to God.

Life
application: Are you living by faith in what Jesus did or are you
tying to please God through your own deeds? Have faith in what God
has done through Jesus and then you will be able to please God with
your deeds, because they are based on faith and not on the act
itself. Above all, God looks for faith in His faithless creatures.

Heavenly
Father, what a precious treasure Your word is. To know that Abraham
was declared righteous by mere faith gives me confidence that the
same is true with me. May I live by faith, even when doing good deeds
for others, knowing that what I am doing is less important than the
faith behind my actions. May these deeds then bring glory and honor
back to You. Amen.

…for
when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in
the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
Romans 2:14

Paul
now introduces a supporting argument for what he just said in verse
13 by starting with “for when” –

…(for
not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but
the doers of the law will be justified; for when…

To
clarify, he has made a claim against the Jews who trust in merely
being the stewards of the law while failing to meet the law. Now he
will demonstrate that what he said is correct. For when Gentiles (all
who are not Jews) who do not have the law (the written code entrusted
to the Jewish people by God), by nature do the things in the law
(they obey what the law prescribes, such as “do not murder”),
although not having the law (because it was given only to the nation
of Israel), are a law to themselves (they have become “doers of the
law” and thus prove his claim of verse 13).

There
is no culture which has ever existed that was devoid of a moral law.
Although the laws are enacted in varying degrees of strictness and
enforced in varying degrees of severity, there is found to be a
universal standard of overall moral right and wrong which is written
on our hearts and imprinted on our consciences. When these internal
codes are violated, a sense of guilt is the result. In essence, the
Gentiles are stewards of God’s law, even if not written and
detailed in the form given to Israel.

It
is important to note that the word translated “when” in no way
implies that what Paul is arguing will take place. Instead, it
is a conjecture which links the two thoughts. The reason this is
important is because even though obedience to this internal law may
exist, it doesn’t mean that it exists perfectly or that it will be
executed flawlessly. Even more, the Bible consistently implies that
it won’t – “all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of
God” (Romans 3:23).

What
this means then is that no person will be saved by the light
he has received – for the Jew it was the Law of Moses, and for the
gentile it is through the internal law of the heart and conscience.
Instead, he will be judged by that light – greater judgment
for the one with greater light. The light merely brings condemnation
in varying degree. It is Christ who brings salvation in its fullness.

This
concept of greater judgment for greater knowledge is hinted at in
James 3:1. Although James is speaking to those who would presume to
be teachers, the idea rings true with what Paul is telling us about
in Romans –

“My
brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall
receive a stricter judgment.”

All
will be judged fairly based upon the light they have received and
none will be able to accuse God of unfairness. All mouths will be
stopped before Him and every tongue will be silenced. In the end, all
people deserve God’s hand of wrath and condemnation, but because of
His great love with which He has loved us, we shall receive mercy if
we come to the cross and the precious shed blood of Jesus.

Life
application: Are you willing to gain greater light which will
potentially increase your guilt before God? It is a scary thought,
but the only acceptable answer for the follower of Jesus is, “Yes.”
It is unthinkable that we would want to keep ourselves from knowing
God in all His fullness just because we are scared of what we might
learn about our own fallen state. Instead, when we learn more, we
need to have our faith and actions coincide with our greater
knowledge.

Lord
God, Your word states “How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.” So Lord, give me the
understanding of Your word and then give me the desire and the
ability to take heed to it. I know that through You I can do
all things and so let me not be timid in my pursuit of You. Amen.

…who
show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing witness, and between themselves their
thoughts accusing or else excusing them)…
Romans 2:15

Paul
states it as an axiom that when people by nature do the things which
are found in the law, even though they don’t have the law, they
“show the work of the law written in their hearts.” It’s a
validation that we know intuitively, although we exercise this in
varying degrees of actual adherence, what God expects of us. The fact
that we display these moral convictions shows that there must be an
ultimate standard on which they are being compared. Though we may err
in our reasoning about a moral issue, the moral standard exists.

Showing
that this code is ingrained “in their hearts,” their conscience
then works with or against their actions; it bears witness to what
they actually do. The Bible gives us insights into man’s conscience
in several ways –

In
John 8:9 is says those who faced Jesus’ pronouncement about being
the first to stone the adulterous woman were convicted in
their conscience. It is a tool of conviction.

In
Acts 23:1, Paul claimed before the Sanhedrin that he “lived in
all good conscience before God.” It is a tool for right
moral living.

In
Romans 13:5, we are told to be subject to rulers, not only because of
their wrath if we disobey, but merely for conscience' sake. It is
a rule and guide within a societal framework because God ordains
rulers of societies.

In 1
Corinthians 8:7-12, Paul notes that believers can have a weak
conscience. This comes from a lack of knowledge about the truth of
God’s word. It is a part of man which must be corrected and
strengthened through prayer and study.

In 1
Timothy 3:9, Paul tells Timothy to have a pure conscience.
This would be living fully and completely within the ordinances of
God and according to the word he has given. Right conscience is an
attainable asset.

In
the following chapter, 1 Timothy 4:2 tells us that those who reject
God’s truth can actually incur a seared conscience. It is
something that can be completely twisted or even eradicated.

In
Titus 1:15, Paul speaks of those who are corrupted and thus they have
a defiled conscience. It is something that when misused can
produce ungodliness and immorality.

These,
and many other examples in Scripture, show us that the conscience is
a powerful tool to be used in accordance with God’s word or which
will work against it. When exercised without God’s word, the
conscience of man, like his emotions, is one of the most uncertain
faculties he possesses. If not reigned in, it will become seared as
Paul describes and the person will move so far away from right
morality that they become completely defiled. This is total depravity
and complete enmity with God, striving against him on every moral
issue.

Life
application: Are you seeking to align your moral compass with God’s
word? If so, then you must first know God’s word and then allow
your conscience to lead you to right moral actions and convict you of
incorrect ones. When this is properly effected, you will be living
fully and completely within the ordinances of God.

Heavenly
Father, help me to never snub my conscience when it speaks to align
my actions with Your word. Keep me from willful disobedience which
can only result in a weakening of my conscience, even to the point
that it is seared. I do want to please You and I pray this for Your
glory. Amen.

…in
the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel. Romans 2:16

This
verse ties directly back to verse 12. The intervening verses fill the
thought out for us to comprehend the full extent of what the two
surrounding verses state. Every person will be judged according to
the amount of revealed light they have received. At Paul’s time, it
was Jew and Gentile; the Holy Scriptures and natural law; order and
conscience; deeds for self or deeds of faith; etc. These will be
considered and judgment will be rendered.

It
needs to be noted again that although there are two categories
flowing from Paul’s pen – Jew and Gentile, there is now the
church and the complete canon of Scripture. This is a sobering
thought for us to consider. We now have a much fuller extent of God’s
revelation and are therefore more accountable for what we know.
Imagine the guilt of the professor of biblical theology in a modern
university who has, and teaches, both testaments of the Bible and yet
discounts what he teaches as “one of many paths to God” or “just
another ancient text written by man.” Such an individual will be
judged in the most severe way for diminishing the glory of which he
was an especially important steward.

All
of these things will be evaluated “in the day when God will judge
the secrets of men.” The Bible in numerous verses reveals that God
searches the hearts and minds of man. It also states again and again
that God will judge all people. Tying the two thoughts together
supports what Paul states here. Judgment isn’t only based on deed,
but on thought and intent as well. Ecclesiastes 12:14 gives us one of
many tastes of this –

For
God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret
thing,
Whether good or evil.

The
ancient Greek writer Sophocles who lived almost 500 years before
Christ, and outside of the covenant people Israel, wrote these words,
confirming that there is a written code which men have in their
hearts and that God is therefore just in judging these “secrets of
men.”

“Not
now, nor yesterday, but evermore

These
laws have lived: nor know we whence they came.”

We
are being observed, evaluated, and our deeds – hidden and open –
are being noted for the day of God’s judgment. And the final
portion of that process will be “by Jesus Christ.” The Bible
reveals with no uncertainty (such as in Act 17:31) that He is the One
to whom all judgment has been granted –

“…because
He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance
of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

God
has every right to judge His creatures, but how much more when He
participated in His creation. And then, how much more when His
creatures have rejected His participation! Jesus Christ, the God/Man
will stand in judgment because He too stood in judgment. If His own
creatures sentenced Him while innocent, how much more just is His
judgment over their guilt? All of this is ensured to us as Paul says,
“according to my gospel.”

Paul
is not claiming authority to the gospel, as if he is its author.
Instead, he is claiming authority to it as the herald of the Author’s
message. His commission stands directly from the words of Jesus in
Acts 9:15. There Jesus states, “…he is a chosen vessel of Mine to
bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”
This then places Paul in opposition to any false gospel. His word is
the authoritative word of God as transmitted through him, just as was
the word of the prophets of old.

Life
application: It is sobering to know that every thought we have and
every thing we have done is known to God and that we are accountable
to Him for these things. For this reason, we are told to bring “every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Let each of us
both strive for this individually and also remind others of this when
the need arises.

O
glorious God, You are just when You judge and thus we are deserving
of the pouring out of your wrath upon us. And yet, in Your great love
You have lavished us with favor, mercy, and salvation according to
the riches of Your glory. Thank you for our Lord Jesus and the
promise of eternal life which proceeds from and through Him. Amen.

Indeed
you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in
God, Romans 2:17

Paul
now names the people he's been directing his thoughts to since verse
2:1, the Jews. He has laid out his argument concisely concerning the
nature of judgment for those with the law and those without the law.
Now he gives three points which concern the Jew's attitude.

1)
You are called a Jew. The term Jew is applied as a general name for
the people of Israel. Abraham was a Hebrew and the name was applied
to those of the line of promise even to Paul's time (Philippians
3:5). However, the people are also called "Israelites."
This is the group and nation of the people. But even this was further
refined to "Jew." The term comes from the tribe of Judah,
of whom Jesus descends. Judah became the prominent tribe of the
people of Israel and after the Babylonian exile, the term Jew became
synonymous with any person from any of the tribes of Israel. Being
called a Jew was considered an honor because they were the stewards
of God's oracles and his chosen people.

2)
You "rest on the law." Just as some people "rest on
Catholicism" or "rest on their good works" or "rest
on their blessings as evidence of God's favor" the Jews rested
on having the law. It became an end in and of itself. "Not only
are we God's chosen, but we have the law and thus are in right
standing with God."

3)
You "make your boast in God." The one true God revealed
Himself through the promised line which eventually became the Jews.
They had His law and His name rests on them - Israel means "He
struggles with God." Not only did God place the name "El"
on them, but He also revealed His other names - "I AM,"
"Jehovah," "El Shaddai," and etc. They could
boast that this God, who has revealed Himself though their oracles
and to their people, was surely on their side.

However,
Paul has already shown that all men, both Jew and Gentile, need more
than a name to be in favor with God. They also need more than the law
to be in favor with God. And they need more than knowing God's name
and character to be in His favor. James explains this quite well in
his epistle. Note how he brings in all three points - Abraham being a
Hebrew; works of faith rather than merely having knowledge; and
having a correct knowledge of who God is and yet not being right with
him -

"But
someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your
faith without yourworks, and I will show you my faith by
my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the
demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O
foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our
father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and
by works faith was made perfect?" James 2:18-22

Life
application: Again and again we see in Scripture that what God
desires is faith. Our family, our denomination, or our nation of
birth is irrelevant to a right standing with Him. Having a Bible in
our house and even being a teacher of that Bible means nothing
without faith in what it states. And knowing all about God in our
heads means nothing if we don't have a relationship with Him. Let us
strive to put aside all externals and focus on what is inside - a
heart and attitude which demonstrates our love for Him.

Lord
Jesus, please keep my heart humble and my thoughts properly focused
on You. All the knowledge in the world about who You are means
nothing when I am disobedient to You. So Lord, help me to mix my
knowledge with faith. And then help me to instruct others wisely
based on that knowledge. All this I pray to Your glory. Amen.

...and
know His will, and approve the things that are
excellent, being instructed out of the law, Romans 2:18

There
are two general meanings that the word "approve" could mean
in this verse. The first would be "to approve of" and the
other would be to "prove" or to "discern between."
Either would make sense in the context of the verse and it should be
noted that the former would merely be the result of exercising the
latter. In the overall context and because one eventually results in
the other, it would be logical that Paul is speaking of discernment.

This
type of discernment is found in the testing of metals by fire. When
they are heated they are proven pure, found to be mixed with lesser
metals, or defiled by impurities. The fire reveals the purity,
nature, and quality of the solid by breaking it down into liquid.
Jesus uses this same term in Luke 12:56 in a manner revealing
discernment -

"Hypocrites!
You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is
it you do not discern this time?" Luke 12:56

The
people He was addressing could walk out from morning to morning and
tell what the weather would be like by the color of the sky. But when
the Light of the world came and revealed His glory, they were blinded
and unable to make a right discernment about who He actually is.

In a
like manner, Paul shows that the Jew, putting his trust in the law as
an end in and of itself, boasts in God because they "know His
will" from the law. This is done regardless of whether they
actually have faith in God or not. They know what He expects from a
mechanical sense and therefore can discern between what is good and
what isn't. They obtain this because they are "being instructed
out of the law."

The
word "instructed" here is from the Greek word
katechoumenos. It is where we obtain our word "catechumen"
- one who is being instructed. From this comes the word catechism, or
instruction.

The
instruction they receive helps them to understand what is right, but
he will show that it doesn't guarantee that the knowledge will be
transferred to right action. As an example, a judge may know the law
like the back of his hand, but this doesn't mean that he will
actually obey the law that he knows. Time and time again we read of
judges who are arrested for committing the very crimes that they
judge others for. These judges -

1)
Know the law (His will)

2)
Agree with the law because they judge others using it (approve the
things that are excellent)

3)
Because they have been schooled in law (instructed out of the law)

All
of this, however, is no guarantee of right living. We will see this
as we continue.

Life
application: What is your level of Bible knowledge? Have you read the
word many times? Have you studied the original languages? Have you
been schooled in proper theology? If yes - big deal... big deal if
you don't align your life with what you know. Having the law; knowing
the Bible; understanding the nature of God - none of that means
diddly if you have no heart for the Lord. Each day, remember to
return to child-like faith in your Lord. Then go back and apply the
meat of His word to Your wholesome diet.

Lord
Jesus, I confess that too often I trust in my knowledge and forget to
put my faith in You. My knowledge actually causes me to stumble and
act in a manner contrary to the beauty of living by faith alone in
Your great work. Humble me, O Lord, and give me a heart that is soft
and tender toward You alone. Amen.

...and
are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to
those who are in darkness, Romans 2:19

This
is a continuation of the previous verse and will carry on through the
next verse. The Jews rested in the law, made their boast in God, and
knew His will. They were able to discern what was right because of
their instruction out of the law. Because of this, they were
confident that they were a sufficient "guide to the blind"
and were "a light to those who are in darkness." But the
law is not an end in and of itself. It is only a means of
understanding God's perfection and man's fallen state.

"Darkness"
as used in the Bible often refers to a state of spiritual blindness
and a life apart from God. When a person trusts that they can meet
the demands of the law apart from a reliance on God's mercy, it only
lead to self-blindness. This inevitably will result in leading others
astray as well. Jesus shows time and again that this is exactly what
happened to the leaders of Israel, such as is seen in Matthew 15:14 -

"Let
them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

The
light which is found in Scripture is only suitable for someone who is
willing to use that light for self-illumination first. As the
Psalmist implored, so should each person who desires to be instructed
from God's word -

"Open
my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law."
Psalm 119:18

The
Jewish people had every assurance that they were the stewards of
God's oracles and that through them would come all the riches of
God's promises to the world, but this assurance merely led them to
trust that they were somehow excused from God's wrath and judgment.
The law to them became a manipulative tool which they used to lord
their supposed superiority over the gentiles. However, because of
their incorrect use and instruction of it, Jesus shows the opposite
was the result -

"Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and
sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as
much a son of hell as yourselves." Matthew 23:15

The
law never had the intent or purpose of making people perfect before
God. As noted in a previous verse, the fact that the Day of Atonement
was given as a part of the law proves this. What the law was meant to
do was to lead the people to a humble walk before God in the eager
expectation of the Messiah who would reveal the glory of God to the
world. This was prophesied in the Old Testament and revealed in the
New -

"The
people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon
those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has
dawned." Matthew 4:16

Life
application: When you read the Bible and see stories of people
committing grievous sins, do you see yourself next to them or do you
see them as more vile that you? Understand that erring in any part of
the law breaks the entire law and therefore you are as guilty as they
are. The judgment they received is the judgment you deserve. Take
time today to thank God that your punishment was transferred to
Jesus. It was a high cost paid for your sin.

Heavenly
Father, I look to the cross and wonder how You could have done this
for me. May I never presume that I somehow deserve salvation and
eternal life, but that it is Your great grace and mercy which was
poured out abundantly on me. Thank You for Jesus; thank You for His
cross; thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit; and thank You for
Your word. Amen.

...an
instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of
knowledge and truth in the law. Romans 2:20

This
is the final portion of the idea which began in verse 17. Those who
rested in the law, the Jews, made their boast in God because they
knew his will from the law. Because they were the law's stewards,
they could make value judgments about what is morally right. This
resulted in a confidence that they could guide the blind and
illuminate the darkness of those without the law. This allowed them
to become "an instructor of the foolish" and "a
teacher of babes." They believed they were so qualified because
they had "the form of knowledge and truth in the law."

In
Scripture, the word "foolish" is normally associated with
one of two types of people - the first is one who is uneducated in a
matter and the second is someone who is morally deficient or wicked.
In this verse, Paul is speaking of the first - someone lacking the
form of knowledge and truth in the law.

The
term "a teacher of babes" is the literal meaning of the
words, but it symbolically means someone who is as ignorant about a
matter as a baby. To the Jew, everyone else who lived without the law
would fall into this category - "We know as adults; your
knowledge is that of an infant." Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2
uses terminology which reflects this type of understanding -

"And
I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but
as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with
solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and
even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal."

The
same concept is expanded on by the author of Hebrews -

"For
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and
you have come to need milk and not solid food.For
everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the
word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to
those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Hebrews 5:12-14

Having
seen this in real applications, we now turn to 1 Peter 2:1, 2. There
we see that although solid food, which adults eat and which
represents development in wisdom, is important, it is not the entire
picture. Peter shows that the Bible is actually something meant for
all, but is considered "pure milk." This is something for
babes as well as adults -

"Therefore,
laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil
speaking,as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the
word, that you may grow thereby,if indeed you have tasted
that the Lord is gracious." 1 Peter 2:1, 2

What
is being conveyed is that the Bible is pure spiritual milk -
acceptable to all people of all ages. But increased knowledge of it
moves one from being a spiritual infant to a fully developed person.
The problem Paul is addressing in these verses, and which will be
explained in the verses to come, is that having all of the Bible
knowledge in the world doesn't necessarily lead one to maturity. Only
when it is properly applied and acted on does this occur. The Jews
Paul speaks of had the knowledge to impart to others, but they didn't
apply it to themselves.

The
Geneva Bible states the situation this way, "As though he said
that the Jews under a pretence of an outward serving of God,
attributed all to themselves, when in reality they did nothing less
than observe the Law." Mere observation of the law accomplishes
nothing without an internal change in the person. Therefore, like
Peter stated, the Jews - as all of us - need to "desire the pure
milk of the word." By searching the purity of the law, we will
naturally be led to a close and personal relationship with the
Lawgiver, our glorious Lord.

Life
application: Head knowledge is great and we need to increase our
knowledge of the word every day. As we do, we become spiritually
mature. However, we need to continually search out the intent behind
the knowledge - a personal walk with Jesus. Let our hearts be aligned
with our actions so that we will be pleasing vessels, ready for the
Lord's use.

O
God, what a beautiful and perfect word you have given us. Please
continually fill me with an understanding of what it says and also
the desire to adhere to its precepts. But let me not merely do these
things as a means of lifting myself up above others, but rather let
me grow so that I may become closer to You. This I pray in the name
of Jesus. Amen.

You,
therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who
preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
Romans 2:21

Based on his statement in verses 17-20 Paul now asks a series of
questions in Verses 21-23. The questions however begin with
"therefore" and thus imply an answer opposite to what would
normally be expected. By using a question in this manner, it makes
the answer all the more forceful and undeniable.

Beginning with the concept of an instructor passing on instruction,
he asks, "You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach
yourself?" The answer will be "no." The Jews who have
the law have been shown to not live by the law which they possess.

To show this, his first indictment is concerning theft - "You
who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?" Obviously
not every person reading his words are implicated in theft, but Paul
is making a general observation based on the society in which he
lived and which both rejected Christ and then nailed Him to the
cross. The oral and possibly written testimony at that time by those
who bore witness to Him showed this.

Jesus' accusation against the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:2,
3 is one instance we can verify it. These are the very people who
possessed the law and instructed out of it, and yet Jesus showed that
they did not live by the standards which they taught -

"The
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever
they tell you to observe, that
observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say,
and do not do."

On another occasion, Jesus explicitly called those who controlled the
temple grounds thieves -

"And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be
called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of
thieves.’" Matthew 21:13

The exact things which the law forbade are the things they practiced,
not just in secret, but out in the open. Their actions became a
festering wound within the society because the actions of the leaders
were seen by all. When this happens, even the commoners begin to act
in the same manner.

A perfect example of this is our nation today. Theft in Washington is
so open and brazen - transferring money from those who earn it to
those who don't - that society sees this as normal and acceptable.
The open wound cannot be healed with leaders who are no more than
bully thugs.

Favors are bought and sold and exemptions are made for some but not
for others. This leads to societal breakdown and "every man for
himself." The same was true in Israel at Jesus' time as is
evidenced by the gospel record. Again we turn to Matthew to see open
theft by the instructors of the law -

"He
answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the
commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded,
saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who
curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say,
‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might
have received from me is
a gift to God”—
then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made
the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” Matthew
15:3-6

The
practice of corban
was a way of getting around taking care of one's own parents. By
devoting assets or money to God, these things could no longer be used
for anything else. By making something so devoted, the gift could not
be used to help the parents and yet it wasn't actually bound to the
temple treasury either. It was somewhat in a state of limbo - it
could only be given to the temple or used by the giver. By agreeing
to this precept, the leaders in Israel were committing theft against
the people who needed it most, the parents who had raised the person
and now needed the same care in their old age.

The moral responsibility of those who have the law increases. It
doesn't decrease, nor is there an exemption because of the knowledge
they possess. Knowledge in no way negates right action. Instead it
calls for it and even demands it.

Life application: Here we are studying the Bible and looking deeply
into its precepts. We are gaining knowledge and thus much more will
be expected of us as we walk through life. The eyes of others are
watching us and anticipate that we will set the example for right
conduct. Today as you go about your business, reflect on the areas
where you may need to correct your habits so that they align with the
Name you bear - the Lord Jesus.

Lord,
I love Your word and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to read
it and learn it. Now Lord, help me to live out what I have learned
and to act in a manner which is in accord with its precepts. May
those who see my life and actions have nothing bad to say about the
title of "Christian." Amen.

You
who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You
who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Romans 2:22

This is the second of three verses asking those questions to which
the Jews of his time had to answer, "Yes." The first today
concerns adultery - "You who say, 'Do not commit adultery,' do
you commit adultery?" The answer is "yes" and it is
found in the gospels as were the previous questions. And not only is
the answer affirmative to literal adultery, but spiritual adultery as
well. In Matthew 12:39, it says this -

"But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous
generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except
the sign of the prophet Jonah.'"

Jesus accused those who came to Him looking for a sign of the
validation of His authority of being wicked and adulterous. The
Ninevites, to whom Jonah was sent, repented at the preaching of Jonah
without any miraculous sign. The people of Israel had been given the
sign of Jonah in Jesus' preaching that judgment was coming, just as
Jonah gave. And yet they failed to repent. They, the stewards of the
oracles of God and the people from whom came the prophets saw the
repentance of Nineveh based on the word from the God they served, but
they were unwilling to do what even the pagans had done. They were
attempting to excuse themselves from their obligation based on God's
supposed favoritism of them, but instead they only incurred greater
guilt.

Concerning literal adultery, the account in John 8:1-11 pointedly
shows that the people were willing to judge a woman caught in
adultery by bringing her to be stoned and yet excused the male who
she was with, though both bore the guilt. Jesus then challenged them
to cast the first stone if they were without sin; none did. The
premise of the law is that if one commandment is broken, the entire
law is broken (James 2:10). As none were without sin, then all had
broken the entire law, including adultery. In both respects in this
account they were proved to be adulterers.

Paul next makes an interesting comment, "You who abhor idols, do
you rob temples?" The people of the law had transgressed so far
in the past that the land was literally full of idols. Because of
this, and many other transgressions, God's judgment came upon them
and they were exiled to Babylon for 70 years. The lesson concerning
idolatry was well learned, but this only took care of the outward,
blatant sin of having idols set up for worship. Despite the external
change, it did nothing to inwardly change the people. Their hearts
remained greedy and set on idolatry, even if it wasn't demonstrated
in bowing to idols. Instead, they had set up idols in their hearts.
Jesus shows us this in Matthew 21:12, 13 -

"Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those
who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the
money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to
them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of
prayer,' but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

As we continue to see, the very things which the Jews found fault in
others were found in them as well. They were trusting in their status
as Jews and not in a personal, obedient relationship with God. Each
of us needs to continually evaluate our own station to ensure we
don't fall into this trap.

Life application: Though we may be born into a Christian home, we are
not by default Christians. Though we may be members of our church, it
doesn't mean we have a right-standing with God. The only thing we can
trust in for God's favor is our faith, mixed with obedience. When
these are properly exercised, God will surely turn His face toward
us. Take time today to evaluate your walk with the Lord.

Heavenly
Father, thank You for Jesus and all that He did for me. Help me not
to trust in anything except His work and then help me to instruct
others in a right relationship with You as well. It is so easy to
have and we so often miss it because of our own pride. Be with me and
keep reminding me that it is by Jesus alone that I am secure in You.
Amen.

You
who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking
the law? Romans 2:23

This
is Paul's final question of indictment against the Jews who rested in
the law, but failed to adhere to the precepts they supposedly held in
such high esteem. "You who make your boast in the law"
implies that they have something worthy of boasting about. Nobody
would boast in something of no value. Therefore, the implication is
that law is good, the law is right, and the law is holy. Holding up
the law as a vital part of their status implies its great value,
because their status is derived from that law.

As
an example, consider a Bible preacher. He stands in the pulpit and
proclaims the glory and splendor of the word. He preaches its
precepts. He condemns those who don't adhere to it. His livelihood is
based on the Bible, his status is based on the Bible, and the
people's trust of the Bible is based on his determined mindset about
the Bible. All of who he is and what he has is because of the Bible;
he boasts in the Bible. But Paul goes on...

Despite
all the boasting Paul asks, "Do you dishonor God through
breaking the law?" The very law the Jews stand on for their
livelihood and status is dishonored when they break it. In essence,
they have religion but they are not redeemed; they have appearance
without reality; they profess, but they do not possess; they have
orthodoxy, but they are lacking orthopraxy; they know every precept,
but they have no proper practice. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus states these
words to the religious leaders of His time -

"Hypocrites!
Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These
people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their
lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they
worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men.’” Matthew 15:7-9

How
many times have we seen Bible preachers, bishops, pastors, cardinals,
evangelists, etc. stand on the Christian message in precept, but fail
to adhere to it in practice. Their words and their actions don't
sync. This is what Paul has been and is addressing. Albert Barnes
rightly states that, "It matters little what a man's speculative
opinions may be; his practice may do far more to disgrace religion
than his profession does to honor it. It is the life and conduct, and
not merely the profession of the lips, that does real honor to the
true religion."

A
Christian by name only is not a Christian. There must be a moment in
the person's life when true acknowledgment of one's own depraved
state is realized. After that, it is incumbent on the saved soul to
demonstrate it in outward workings of the internal change. To fail in
this can only bring disrepute upon the perception of the Bible and
upon the Person of Jesus by those who look in their sad direction.

Life
application: Are you living out the precepts that you speak to
others? If not, mixed signals are being sent which can only adversely
affect your testimony and their faith. Take time to evaluate your
actions and align them with your professions.

Lord
Jesus, help me to have actions that align with my words in all
aspects of my life, but especially in my conduct as a Christian. This
is particularly important because other's perceptions of everything I
do bears on who I am in You. So keep me on the straight and narrow
path of right living, O Lord. Amen.

For
“the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you,” as it is written. Romans 2:24

We
often make our mental associations of things unseen by the things
which we see. If we buy a car, a Ford perhaps, and it is a lemon then
our perception of Ford the company will be negative. If our friends
buy Fords too and they are all lemons, the name of Ford will be found
in low esteem among those looking for a car.
The term for
"blasphemed" is found in Romans 3:8 and is translated as
"slanderously reported." Later, in Romans 14:16, it is
translated as to "be spoken of as evil." When you buy a dud
car, your inclination is to tell others not to buy one from "that
crummy company." Or you may say something even worse. The people
of Israel were selected by God as His special people and thus their
actions reflect directly on other's perception of Him. Isaiah speaks
of this perception -

Now
therefore, what have I here,” says the Lord,
“That
My people are taken away for nothing?
Those who rule over
them
Make them wail,” says the Lord,
“And
My name is blasphemed continually every day. Isaiah 52:5

The
gentile world at large railed against Israel because of their conduct
and, by default, they railed against the God of Israel. However,
Israel's disobedience actually demonstrates God's greatness and His
mercy even more. In Ezekiel 32, God explains why He was willing to
restore Israel, even after a second instance of disobedience and the
crucifixion of His Son. This restoration occurred, exactly as the
Bible predicted, in the last century - first in 1948 with the land
and then in 1967 with the city of Jerusalem -

“Therefore
say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for
My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations
wherever you went." Ezekiel 36:22

God
demonstrated mercy to Israel while showing the nations His holiness.
His word is vindicated in and through His disobedient people.

An
important point to consider here is that since Israel's exile and the
establishment of the church, it is we who bear the name of God - in
the name of Jesus. When our actions contain inappropriate conduct,
the name of God is blasphemed among the unsaved. Who in their right
mind would want the title "Christian" when they see people
living unholy, disrespectful lives? Our actions have consequences.

Life
application: Do you have a Christian symbol on your car? If so, do
people see someone who is acting properly on the road? What about
those you work with. If they know you are a Christian, then are your
daily actions calling them to ask more about your faith, or are they
making a mockery of the name of Jesus? As you go through your day,
consider how the things you do affect others' perception about the
Lord.

Lord,
please be with me and guide me in my daily walk. Keep my thoughts on
You and help me to never stray from right living. May my life be a
testimony to Your greatness and may others seek You out because of
me. This I pray to Your honor and glory. Amen.

For
circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are
a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Romans 2:25

Paul
turns to the ancient rite of circumcision to justify the comments he
has previously made. "For" tells us that what was stated
leads to this conclusion. "For circumcision is indeed profitable
if you keep the law." The rite of circumcision was given to
Abraham in Genesis 17. However, he was declared righteous by God in
Genesis 15 many years earlier. The rite was a sign of the
declaration, not the other way around. Therefore, if one keeps the
law (which was later instituted through Moses, a member of the
promised line who received the rite), then the circumcision has
profit. If not, then it is entirely without merit.

In
order to understand this, think of a person who was not of the
covenant people. If he was circumcised, perhaps to be a spy against
Israel, what good would his circumcision do in regards to the law?
Nothing; it would mean nothing. The circumcision needs to be
accompanied by a belief that what the law is proclaiming is also
worth living out.

Paul
then gives a validation of this by turning the premise around - "But
if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become
uncircumcision." If the law was given and circumcision is a sign
attached to those who have received it, implying that it is binding
upon them, then when the law is broken, the sign means nothing.
Suppose you are the citizen of a nation and you are given an oath as
a sign of that citizenship - "I promise to defend the
constitution of..." As a validation of that, you are given a
uniform with stripes and a flag of your nation on it. If you ship off
to war and become a traitor, the uniform means nothing. "Your
allegiance has become non-allegiance."

An
outward sign must be accompanied by an inward compass or the sign
means nothing. This is true within a family, within a work
environment, or in any other group or organizational context. Without
this inward conviction, the outward sign has no point or purpose.
Moses realized this when he spoke to the nation after their 38 years
of desert wanderings in Deuteronomy 10:16 -

"Therefore
circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no
longer."

In
the very next sentence, verse 10:17, Moses says that the Lord "shows
no partiality nor takes a bribe." "No partiality" is
tied directly to "circumcision of the heart." It is an
internal conviction, not an outward sign, which demonstrates a person
is in right standing with the law. This is especially true because
Paul (in fact the entire Old Testament as well) shows that none can
meet the demands of the law perfectly. Therefore, all are guilty
before the law and the sign of circumcision is of no value unless
accompanied by faith in what the law provides when the law is broken
- mercy and forgiveness through conviction and repentance (such as
the Day of Atonement ritual).

The
importance of "uncircumcision" is of such weight and moment
to Paul that he will use the term 19 times in his letters. Only one
other time is it used in the New Testament - in the book of Acts.
Understanding this connection between the inward change and the rite
clearly shows us that baptism is not a New Testament equivalent of
circumcision. Infant baptism carries with it the same inherent flaw
as what Paul speaks of. To understand the fault of tying infant
baptism in with circumcision, you may wish to take time and watch
this sermon where I discusses the issue in detail -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uv9KPCo1XQ&list=UU41M8ZcIBLvEH_O3O6qMUAg&index=26

Life
application: If you are relying on an external sign, rite, or
affiliation in order to please God, you have made an error in your
thinking. The holiness of God demands that all who enter His promised
heaven must be perfect in all ways. Nothing can be added to an
imperfect being to make him perfect. Instead, there must be a
complete change in the person - moving from unrighteousness to
righteousness. This can only come about by faith in what God can do,
not man; this can only come about through Jesus. Fix your eyes on
Jesus today.

Heavenly
Father, may You continue to remind me that the external things of my
life - my denomination, my church attendance, my giving, and my title
of "Christian" can only have meaning if my heart is
directed to You. And then Lord, give me the willing desire to pursue
You and thus prove that the externals really reflect what is inside
me. Amen.

Therefore,
if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law,
will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? Romans
2:26

Another
question which is actually an affirmative statement now comes from
Paul. A man who hasn't been circumcised and yet keeps the law will be
considered as one who was circumcised. As previously noted, Abraham
believed God and was counted as righteous in Genesis 15. His
circumcision, the sign of the covenant, didn't come until many years
later in Genesis 17. The sign in no way added to his state of
righteousness.

Paul
is teaching through his words that God's approval of man does not in
any way depend on the external appearance of the individual, but
rather on the condition of one's heart and their actions which are
aligned with a right heart condition. He finishes this verse with
"will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision."

The
term "be counted" is the Greek word logisthesetai (from the
verb logizomai) which means to "consider" or to "reckon."
This verb is used in Romans 4:3 where Paul quotes the account of
Abraham from Genesis 15 - " For what does the Scripture say?
'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.'" God imputed righteousness to Abraham because of
his faith. There were no deeds attached to the faith, but simply an
acceptance of what God had said was true.

The
word is also used in Luke 22:37 when Jesus was counted, or reckoned,
as a transgressor even though He had done no wrong -

"For
I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in
Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'"

The
idea of imputed righteousness permeates both testaments of the Bible
and is realized in the work of Jesus. He was circumcised and He also
met the strict demands of the law perfectly. Now, by faith in Him and
in His actions we too can be counted righteous by mere faith, just as
Abraham was. Our "uncircumcision" is counted as
"circumcision" because He was circumcised as a Jew. Also,
we can now meet the righteous demands of the law through Him as well.
His work can be "counted as" accomplished for us.

Life
application: As you read the Old Testament, particularly the 613
commandments of the law given through Moses, reflect on the precepts
that you have failed to meet - there will be a lot. Then realize that
meeting these perfectly is the standard God demands. But don't forget
that despite your failure to meet them, Jesus prevailed. If you
accept His work, it will be imputed to you. And the suffering He felt
at the cross... that was your punishment being transferred to Him.
Apply this to your life by demonstrating a grateful heart to the
Lord.

When
I think of all that You have done for me Lord, I am just overwhelmed
by it all. You accomplished what I failed to do and instead of
holding that over me in laughter, you laid it upon me in love. Who am
I, Lord, that You would do such a thing for me? How I love You, O
Lamb of God. Amen.

And
will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge
you who, even with your
written code and circumcision, are
a transgressor of the law? Romans 2:27

Another
question which demands a "Yes" answer is handed to the Jews
of Paul's day. Those gentiles (the physically uncircumcised) who
fulfill the law will judge those who have the written code and
circumcision (the Jews who have the law and the sign of the law)
because of their failure to meet the law, of which circumcision is a
sign.

It
is obvious in and of itself that having the law and having the sign
of the law is pointless unless one obeys the law they have. And so
Paul has laid out the precepts to show us this. They involve the
following thoughts -

1)
Having the sign of circumcision without fulfilling the law which
mandates the sign is lawlessness.

2)
Those who fulfill the law, regardless of whether they have the sign
of the law or not, will receive God's praise. On the other hand,
those who have the sign but who fail to fulfill the law may receive
praise from man but not from God.

3)Those
who do not have the sign but who keep the law are more pleasing to
God than those who have the sign but don't keep it.

4)
Those who keep the law, regardless of having the sign, will judge
those who do not keep the law even if they have the sign.

As
before, we can simply insert the word "judge" into "those
who have the sign of the law" to help us make mental images of
what these points make:

1)
Being a judge without fulfilling the law which mandates what he
judges is lawlessness.

2)
Those who obey the law, regardless of whether they are judges or not,
will be secure in what the laws of the nation requires. On the other
hand, those who are judges but fail to fulfill the law may receive
praise from men (because they are judges) but not from the nation who
has given the law.

3)
Those who aren't judges but keep the law are more pleasing to the
nation who has given the law than those who are judges but don't keep
it.

4)
Those who keep the law, regardless of whether they are appointed
judges, will judge those who don't keep the law even if they are
appointed judges.

All
this is telling us that being circumcised means nothing without
obedience. What God asks for is that our heart is turned toward Him
and that we are obedient to what He requires.

Life
application: God has sent His Son into the world to fulfill the law
which none of us can fulfill. Now, He asks us to accept what Jesus
has done on our behalf thus allowing us to meet the impossible
demands of the law through Him - vicariously. Let us apply this to
our life by being grateful, from moment to moment, for the grace He
has lavished upon us.

Lord
God, I want to give You my praise today for the wonderful blessings
You have bestowed upon me - food, family, friendships, and joy in my
heart. But above all, I want to give You praise for the giving of
Your Son to restore me to You. Thank You Lord for this wonderful,
glorious blessing. Amen.

For
he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is
circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
Romans 2:28

The
Hebrew people were given the rite of circumcision in Genesis 17. From
Abraham came Isaac and from Isaac came Jacob who is Israel. From
Israel came the 12 tribes of Israel, the fourth being Judah. Judah,
became the preeminent tribe of the Israelites and the term Jew (being
derived from Judah) became synonymous with all the people of Israel.
To this line of people was given the rite of circumcision which was
to be an outward mark of what should be an inward trait - a
separation from the world and a dedication to, and service of, the
true God.

In
today's verse though, Paul removes the outward sign as the
identifying mark of the Jewish people and thus strips them of their
privileged status based on this sign alone. "For" is a
conclusion resulting from the previous three verses. "For he is
not a Jew who is one outwardly." The word for "outwardly"
is phanero and it indicates what is visible. A beard (well
normally...) identifies a man. It is an outward sign of being a male.
The circumcision was supposed to be the same. The outward mark
identifies what the person is. But Paul strips this notion. Just as a
woman could be born with hypertricosis and have a beard, or she could
have a false beard to make herself look like a man, she is
nonetheless a female. The same is true with the Jew. The outward sign
does not make the person.

Paul
then explains this - "Nor is circumcision that which is outward
in the flesh." The circumcision of the foreskin on the male was
to be an external display of the true circumcision which is reflected
in the inward man. Jeremiah tells us about this many generations
before Paul wrote his epistle -

"Circumcise
yourselves to the Lord,
And
take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and
inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And
burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of
your doings." Jeremiah 4:4

The
people's trust in the outward rite without the accompanying inward
conviction would only result in harsh judgment. The true Jew is the
one who lives in accord with the expectations of the outward sign,
having the inward circumcision to accompany it.

Now
that this has been discerned, one of the most vital distinctions of
all must be made. Is a person a Jew if they are circumcised in the
heart, but not of the line of Israel (the Jewish people?) The answer
is a resounding "No." This is a fundamental error in
theology which will be carefully treated in the next chapter and
throughout the entire New Testament. However, there are those who
claim that it is the case. RC Sproul of Ligonier Ministries stated
this in his Tabletalk Magazine -

"We’re
not dispensationalists here....We believe that the church is
essentially Israel. We believe that the answer to, “What about the
Jews?” is, “Here we are.” We deny that the church is God’s
“plan B.” We deny that we are living in God’s redemptive
parenthesis."

This
type of error leads to confusion of what God is doing in and through
history and it inevitably results in a denial that Israel, the land
and the people of today, has a plan and purpose in God's dealings
with the world in which we live. In essence, they are some sort of
aberration. This is not the case at all. Extreme care needs to be
given to the issue.

Life
application: Regardless of whether we are Jews or not, we are to have
the inward circumcision of the heart. If we don't live lives as
Christians, then the name "Christian" has no meaning. Let
us endeavor to carefully evaluate our internal person and have it
align with our external appellation.

Heavenly
Father, You are reminding us again in today's verse that we need to
live in accordance with the title we bear. If we call ourselves
"Christians" and don't live the life expected of the title,
then are we really Christians? Help us to have the two mesh together
so that we will be pleasing in Your sight and glorifying to You.
Amen.

...but
he is a Jew who is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is
not from men but from God. Romans 2:29

In
our evaluation of verse 28, the question was asked, "Is a person
a Jew if they are circumcised in the heart, but not of the line of
Israel." The answer is "no." This will be explored in
detail in the chapters ahead as well as in the other epistles,
however, one could come to this conclusion if they were to take
verses such as verse 29 out of context. Paul says that "he is a
Jew who is one inwardly." Does this in any way imply that
gentiles are included in this statement? No. It simply means that a
person born of the line of Israel who only outwardly reflects his
nature is not counted as a true Jew. He must have an inward
reflection as well.

Next
Paul says that "circumcision is that of the heart, in the
Spirit, not in the letter." What this means is that having the
sign of circumcision in the flesh, but not having the heart for what
this means to God is of no value. Circumcision in the Spirit means
that the Jew is internally convicted of his state and doesn't live
only by "the letter." This term, "not in the letter,"
is speaking of living by the precepts of the law without caring about
the intent behind those precepts. Paul speaks of the Spirit and the
letter in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 -

"Do
we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others,
epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation
from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of
Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of
the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that
is, of the heart. And we have such trust through
Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but
our sufficiency is from God, who also made us
sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of
the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

The
"letter" is the law which actually condemns all people
because they can never meet the demands of the law. The Spirit is the
Holy Spirit who gives the inner testimony of God and which frees one
from the condemnation of the law. This isn't just a New Testament
concept. David, who failed to meet the demands of the law,
demonstrated his understanding of the letter versus the Spirit -

"Do
not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy
Spirit from me." Psalm 51:11

David
knew that without the Spirit, there was only separation from God's
presence. It's good to note that since Christ's crucifixion and
resurrection, a believer cannot lose the Holy Spirit. Christ
fulfilled the law and therefore its demands are met in those who call
on Him.

Having
discerned these things, the same question needs to be asked for the
second portion of today's verse. Paul says that "circumcision is
that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter." Does
this in any way imply that gentiles are included in this statement?
Again, the answer is "No." Just because a gentile may be
circumcised in the heart and have the Spirit in no way implies that
they are now Jews.

To
understand this, let's use the concept of being a patriot. We could
say, "Being a patriot is an inward allegiance to the nation and
not merely being a citizen of the United States." There are many
people who are citizens of the United States, but not all of them
have an inward allegiance to the nation. In fact, many citizens have
great animosity towards their country; they are not patriots.
Therefore, being a patriot, like being a Jew, is not based on
externals, but internals.

Now
let's consider those who have a great allegiance to the United
States, but they are not citizens. Are they patriots? No. Because
they are not citizens, they are not considered patriots. There were
many foreigners who came to the aid of the patriots during the
revolutionary war, who believed in the cause of the war, and who even
died in support of America, and yet they were not considered
patriots. Likewise, gentiles are not Jews simply because they bear
circumcision of the heart and have the Spirit.

This
is an immensely important issue, because if one believes he is a Jew
when he isn't, then his theology is garbled and confused. This
confusion comes from misapplying verses such as today's and other
verses such as Galatians 3:28 which says, "There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Paul
says "there is neither Jew nor Greek" which leads people to
say that we are all the same; the Christians are now the Jews. But
this is entirely wrong and is verifiable by the same verse. Paul says
also that "there is neither male nor female." However, it's
obvious that there are still males and there are still females.
Nothing has changed. There very fact that Paul states "Jew"
and "Greek" implies that there is, in fact, a difference
just as by stating "male" and "female" implies
there is a difference. Paul is speaking in a spiritual context - "We
are all one in Christ." Not that we are not distinctive entities
in Christ.

Finally
in verse 29, Paul says, "whose praise is not from men but from
God." The term "Jew" comes from the name "Judah"
which mean's "praise." Therefore, Paul is making a pun on
the term. He is saying that being a Jew is not something that comes
from man (meaning ancestry) but it comes from God. In other words,
not all Jews are truly Jews. Only those who live by God's Spirit are
the true Jews. Again, as has been noted twice already, this in no way
implies that a gentile who has received God's Spirit is now a Jew. It
only negates those of the line of Israel who don't qualify.

Life
application: Don't claim to be something you're not. If you are in
Christ, then names and titles mean far less than knowing you're a
child of the King.

Yes
Lord! Thank You for accepting me as I am, a sinner saved by grace.
Praise from man means nothing because I know I have received the gift
of eternal life through Your shed blood. Be pleased O Lord to dwell
in my praises. All glory belongs to You! Amen.

What
advantage then has the Jew, or what is the
profit of circumcision? Romans 3:1

The
obvious question which arises from Paul's words in the previous
verses is, if all of this is true, then "what advantage has the
Jew." If the Jew has the law and no one is able to fully meet
the law thus making their circumcision as uncircumcision (2:25), then
"what is the profit of circumcision?" This thinking is
similar to several questions asked in Ecclesiastes, such as
Ecclesiastes 6:8 -

For
what more has the wise man than the fool?
What does the
poor man have,
Who knows how to walk before the living?

If
the wise man ends up in the same box six feet under the ground that
the fool and the poor man go to, then what good is all the wise man's
wisdom? There must be a reason for being wise beyond our temporary
life or it would be better to live foolishly and carelessly.
Likewise, there must be some value in being a Jew beyond the law or
it would be better to not be a Jew at all.

Paul
will give an immediate answer here in verse 3:2 and then he will
treat the situation concerning the Jews in detail in chapters 9-11.
It's important to note in today's question that it confirms the issue
raised and answered in the last verses of the previous chapter - "Are
those gentiles who are "circumcised in the heart" now Jews?
If they were, Paul wouldn't even ask the question in verse 3:1, nor
would he then answer it. The Bible reveals these truths concerning
the state of God's people -

1)
Anyone who is a faithful believer is a spiritual descendant of
Abraham.

2)
Israel comprises those faithful Jews who are obedient sons of Jacob;
they are of his physical descent.

3)
The church is anyone who has called on Jesus, whether from Israel or
from outside of Israel.

4)
The church did not replace Israel, although we are grafted into their
spiritual heritage.

Life
application: God's wisdom is displayed in how He is working out His
plan of redemption. Our unfaithfulness in no way negates God's
faithfulness and so we should remember the Jewish people in our daily
prayers. God selected them for His reasons and He greatness is being
demonstrated through them. Therefore, our prayers for them will
reflect an understanding of this and a desire for Him to receive the
glory He is due.

Lord,
help me to clearly understand these often difficult issues and then
to act in a way which will bring You honor in them - through prayer,
through acknowledgment of Your sovereignty, and through seeking Your
glory. Amen.

Much
in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of
God. Romans 3:2

In
response to the question of 3:1 (What advantage then has the Jew, or
what is the profit of circumcision?) Paul answers with an
exclamatory sentence... "Much in every way!" In every way,
in all respects, and from all sides, the benefits are evident. The
first being "Chiefly..." that "...to them were
committed the oracles of God." Paul's word translated "chiefly"
can be thought of as "in principle advantage."

Every
other aspect of being a Jew or bearing the sign of circumcision is to
be found within this concept - that they are the stewards of God's
word. If for no other reason than this, and outside of ushering in
the Messiah Himself, it is the most important and greatest honor that
could be bestowed upon a group of people. These oracles, meaning the
entire canon of the Old Testament which were recorded prior to Paul's
time, contain God's special revelation of Himself. They show His acts
in creation; they show why the world is in the state it is in; they
show His plan of righting every wrong and restoring rightness to a
fallen world.

In
the process of accomplishing these things, these oracles show that He
chose a select group of people in which to display His very heart;
His intolerance at sin; His grace, mercy, and forgiveness; His
longsuffering; etc. They also show His wisdom in the selection
because no other group of people has been so minutely diligent in the
tender care and protection of these oracles. Even if some generations
lost them (2 Kings 22:8), a previous generation had secured them in a
place where they could be found. And this is not only the case within
the Bible, but outside of it as well.

The
Dead Sea scrolls, dating to approximately 250BC, were exactingly
copied and stored in an environment where they would last an
extremely long period. When they were discovered, they showed that
the word had been maintained in an exceedingly careful manner
throughout the ages. Any error or intentional manipulation since the
time of Christ could now be compared and corrected if necessary, or
if none, there would be a validation of the long-copied and carefully
protected oracles.

As
you can see, even the environment in which the Jew lived, the land
granted to them by God, is a testimony to being a Jew. Why? Because
the land has the right properties, such as humidity, temperature,
isolation, etc, to protect the ancient scrolls. It also became mostly
unsuitable for habitation during the exile of the people, thus
preserving the archaeological record which can now substantiate the
narratives found within the oracles. Being a Jew and a member of the
group who has carefully kept circumcision as a right for many
millennia is one of the most astonishing aspects of the wisdom of God
and the validation of His word. The two are tied together and
inseparable.

This
leaves an important question to be answered, what about the New
Testament? Although this couldn't be answered completely in 10
doctoral dissertations, what should be noted is that what occurs in
New Testament times was anticipated in the Old Testament. Further,
there are many Old Testament promises (as well as New) which are yet
to be fulfilled for the Jewish people as they dwell in the Land of
Israel. This, if no other concept, tells us that Israel was set
aside, not cast away. God's plans and purposes for His covenant
people will come to pass exactly as prophesied. Stand back and watch
God's amazing plans unfold, quite possibly in your own lifetime and
before your very eyes.

Life
application: The immense wisdom of God is displayed in His word, in
His people, and in His land for the protection and care of His plan
for the people of the world. It is true that the Jew rejected Christ,
but this was known by God before it occurred and therefore He set
aside these people during the dispensation of grace; the Church Age.
But this era is ending and the times of the fulfillment of God's plan
in and through the people of Israel is coming. Pray for the people of
Israel, support the people of Israel, and stand with the people of
Israel. God's hand is upon them and ours should be as well.

Lord,
help me to be a light to the Jews who have yet to call on Jesus. Send
me opportunities to speak to them, care for them, and show them the
truth of what has occurred in their history and ours and how it was
all a part of a greater plan to bring "many sons to glory."
Thank You for Your faithfulness to Your unfaithful people. Amen.

For
what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the
faithfulness of God without effect? Romans 3:3

This
verse, following immediately after verse 2 should be looked at in
conjunction with verse 2 in order to find proper context -

Paul,
in verse 1, asked what was the value of being a Jew and having the
sign of circumcision. After this, he stated what that value is. That
"to them were committed the oracles of God."

As
the stewards of God's oracles, they have a special part in God's
dealings with the world and the implication is (and which is
explicitly stated throughout the Bible) that God will deal with them
in a way which will always preserve them as a people. If this is so,
then what if "some" of them did not believe? Paul is being
gracious here because the vast majority of the nation rejected Christ
just as they rejected their Lord throughout their history, thus
resulting in judgment and exile. What about this? Will their unbelief
make the faithfulness of God null and void?

On
the surface, this question seems clear and accuses God of being
unfaithful. It is an argument which Paul had probably heard time and
again. Those looking to find fault in God will propose such a thought
in order to excuse their own unbelief. However, the question contains
flawed human reasoning which Paul will clearly refute as he lays out
his argument.

Throughout
chapter 2, Paul showed that a believing gentile is in better standing
with God than an unbelieving Jew. He also demonstrated that the sign
of circumcision is pointless unless it is accompanied by living out
what the sign is intended to convey - a relationship with God. Those
who are uncircumcised and live in faith will have their
uncircumcision counted as circumcision while those who are
circumcised and don't live in faith will be as if they are
uncircumcised. But if their circumcision, which is the sign of the
covenant, doesn't save them then doesn't this nullify God's
faithfulness? This is the argument and is what Paul will cover in the
verses ahead.

Life
application: One of the things lacking in the daily lives of people
is clear thinking. It is something that requires training and must be
developed through practice and study. Without clear thinking,
arguments which are otherwise convoluted may seem right. It is hard
to defend against such an argument unless the flaw can be pinpointed
and shown as fallacious. Take time to study critical thinking, either
through self-study on the internet or by enrolling in a college
course which deals with the subject. You will be surprised how
pertinent your studies will be to your daily life.

Heavenly
Father, You created me to be a rational being. You have given me a
brain which is meant for more than rote exercises and daily rituals,
but which is for seeking wisdom in the many disciplines which I come
in contact with from day to day. Help me to clearly and critically
think through the important issues I face. Amen.

Certainly
not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

“That
You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when
You are judged.” Romans 3:4

This
verse is in response to 3:3 - "For what if some did not believe?
Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?"
The answer rings forth clearly - "Certainly not!" Others
translate this as "God forbid," "Of course not,"
"Not at all," "May it never be," "Absolutely
not," "That would be unthinkable," "By no means,"
"No indeed," etc. It is an expression that translators seem
to enjoy trying finding a new and exciting yet clear and acceptable
translation just to be unique. The term in Greek is me genoito.
Albert Barnes says it is telling us to "let not this by any
means be supposed."

Instead
of us supposing that God's faithfulness is tied to man's actions, we
are to hold fast to the conviction that He is a perfect and
unchanging Being and therefore that which is found in Him is absolute
truth. As this is so, all that is true stems from Him and there is
nothing untrue which can be attributed to Him. Because of this, even
if every Israelite was unfaithful, it would have absolutely no
bearing on whether He was faithful or not. In a judicial proceeding,
His innocence would stand while the all others would receive a guilty
verdict.

To
substantiate this, Paul returns to Scripture - the law itself - and
states, "As it is written." The Greek is gegraptai
and it carries the weight of saying "this was written then and
it still stands today." God's word is fixed, firm, and
unchanging. What it states stands forever. What Paul cites is from
the 51st Psalm -

For
I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always
before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done
this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just
when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Psalm
51:3, 4

This
amazingly emotional Psalm was written by David after he was
confronted by God's prophet Nathan. David had committed adultery with
a married woman and subsequently murdered her husband. He
acknowledged that his faithlessness in no way compromised God's
righteousness. And this is true even though he was not only an
Israelite, but God's anointed King of Israel. The sin that David
committed was against God and only God. Because of this, God is found
both just and blameless in the presence of David's unrighteousness.
If this is so with David, Israel's King, then it must be so with all
people.

Returning
to Albert Barnes, He sums up what we should learn from this - "How
happy would it be, if all people would regard this as a fixed
principle, a matter not to be questioned in their hearts, or debated
about, that God is true to his word! How much doubt and anxiety would
it save professing Christians; and how much error would it save among
sinners! Amidst all the agitations of the world, all conflicts,
debates, and trials, it would be a fixed position where every man
might find rest, and which would do more than all other things to
allay the tempests and smooth the agitated waves of human life."

Life
application: God is absolute truth and therefore, when He judges it
is done in a morally perfect way. When tragedy comes our way, we have
absolutely no right to place the blame on God. Let us be careful to
never question His goodness, truth, or wisdom in how He conducts the
affairs of the world, but let us rest in the fact that He will bring
all things again to a state of goodness and perfection for those who
have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Lord
God, it is in my nature to question why bad things occur and the
wisdom of the judgments I see around me - earthquakes, famines,
plagues, and the like. But in the end, these are not the result of
vindictiveness. Rather, they occur because You are just and right in
Your judgments. Help me always to remember this and to trust that You
have it all under control. Amen.

But
if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what
shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?
(I speak as a man.) Romans 3:5

Today's
verse is going to take several more verses to fully comprehend. Paul
says, "But if our unrighteousness..." This is the sin of
man in general, and more to the point the Jew who he has been
speaking about in detail. The Jew has been given the law and yet they
have been unrighteous before the law in many ways. They have
neglected it; they have used it as a point of pride when comparing
themselves to other "sinners;" they have willfully
disobeyed it; and they have missed its spiritual meaning and
application because they rejected Jesus who is the fulfillment of it.

This
"unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God"
though. The law is his standard and it shows His very nature. In
other words, this isn't just speaking of His righteousness toward
man, but His innate righteousness. The first is the result of
the latter, not the other way around. The sins we commit are a
violation of His moral purity and they therefore demonstrate His
perfect righteousness - He is the ultimate standard by which things
are judged and His glory is seen more clearly when the sinner is
compared to Him.

Imagine
the purest diamond in the world. If there was nothing to compare the
diamond to, then one wouldn't know how exquisite it truly was.
However, when other stones of varying materials, quality, luster,
etc. are placed next to it, the true majesty of this "stone of
stones" is seen for what it is. The law which reflects God's
righteousness is like the diamond and our transgression of the law is
like the flawed stones.

So
Paul now asks, because the greatness and majesty of God are seen more
clearly because of our imperfections, then isn't "God unjust who
inflicts wrath?" How can God judge us when He is shown more
glorious through our sin. Doesn't our sin have a good purpose and
doesn't our sin negate His right to judge us?

This
is the question of the impenitent sinner. This is the question of the
unreasoning animal. This is the question of the one who fails to
contemplate the splendor of the Creator. Such a question reveals a
lack of dignity for self and a lack of respect for God. As Paul says,
"I speak as a man." His words are intended to reflect
fallen Adam; the unspiritual, carnal man.

Life
application: How do you perceive sin? If you believe that your sin,
which demonstrates the righteousness of God, is excusable because God
is shown holy through it then you have failed to take in the whole
picture. Take a look today at the things you don't like in others,
things that upset you. Then consider that you are comparing these
things against... you. Now imagine your sin placed next to the
Creator who is infinitely more pure than you. How should He respond?

Lord,
though you are shown holy through my sin, may I never assume that my
sin is somehow excusable because of it. Instead, let me see it for
what it is, a violation of an ultimate standard and which therefore
necessitates an ultimate punishment. I realize how great Your mercy
is toward me when I think it through! Thank You for Jesus who took
what I deserve. Amen.

Certainly
not! For then how will God judge the world?Romans 3:6

This
verse is in response to the question Paul raised, "But if our
unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we
say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?"

A
resounding reply results - "Certainly not!" By no means
could God be unjust. Paul doesn't even address "why"
though. He takes it as an axiom that God will, in fact, judge the
world. Sin doesn't determine God's righteousness. Rather how He deals
with it does. Sin is a violation of His holiness. Therefore, dealing
with the sin is something that must occur.

As
the Creator, everything about God simply is. Because He
created time, He is outside of time and thus there is no change in
Him. As this is so, God is perfectly righteous - His righteousness
is. Any violation of it must be judged – or He is not
perfectly righteous. But He is and therefore His righteousness cannot
be compromised.

Similarly,
God is perfectly just. Because He is, the penalty for a violation of
His righteousness must be perfect. The law demands that every
violation be punished and “the wages of sin is death.” There is
no way around this. We have earned death and we have earned
condemnation. If we do not receive this, then God is not perfectly
just, but He is.

God
is also perfectly holy. Because we are made unclean from our
transgressions against His perfectly holy nature, we must be
eternally separated from Him – or He is not perfectly Holy, but He
is. If a person only committed one moral transgression in his entire
life, it is sufficient to eternally separate him from God. God cannot
accept 1% unrighteousness. He does not weigh sins on a balance.
Nothing but absolute righteousness and pure holiness can be accepted
by God.

Adding
to the problem is that God is absolutely truthful. He has spoken from
His very nature what is and what is not acceptable for man. If God
overlooks the words He spoke in absolute truth, then He is not
truthful – an impossibility. However, God has promised to redeem
His people. Because He has spoken, then it must be so, or He is not
truthful – this is impossible.

On
the other side of this is God’s mercy; He is absolutely merciful.
However, if in His mercy, He overlooks our transgressions, then He
violates His righteousness – it would be ridiculous to even
consider. Further, God is perfectly gracious and longs to participate
in fellowship with His people, bestowing infinite grace upon them.
However, because He is perfectly Holy, this cannot occur with sinful
man or He is not perfectly Holy; this is impossible.

And
finally, God is also love. God loves each person perfectly, but He
cannot fellowship with His beloved creatures because of their sins.
If He were to do so, He would violate His just, righteous, and holy
character. This is also impossible.

This
leaves a tension between these characteristics of God and man who has
sinned. More terrifying is that Adam sinned and his fallen nature is
transferred to his descendants. We cannot go back in time before the
sins we've committed, nor can we go back before Adam's sin. Time is
moving forward and it is the medium in which we live and interact
with God. The separation is complete; God's holiness has been
violated; and there is nothing we can do - judgment must come. This
is the certainty of the matter. Therefore, though our unrighteousness
demonstrates the righteousness of God, it in no way negates the
judgment which must result.

Life
Application: All sin must be judged. However, God in His wisdom and
mercy has allowed the sin of man to be judged in a perfect
Substitute. By judging sin in this way the tension between God’s
eternal attributes ends. God’s perfect righteousness
required a sacrifice for payment of our sins. His perfect holiness
demanded that no iniquity could be found in that Substitute. His
perfect justice says that no unrighteousness can come into His
presence, but a perfect payment restores felicity when offered by Him
and accepted by man. His perfect grace is demonstrated in the
Gift which we don’t deserve. His perfect mercy is revealed
in not condemning us as we deserve; His wrath was instead placed on
His own precious Son. His perfect truthfulness is upheld in
the Person and work of Jesus Christ, by which every promise in every
covenant to man is fulfilled in Him. And His perfect love is
demonstrated in the giving of His own Son on our behalf. Take time
today to think through the enormity of what transpired at the cross
of Calvary.

Lord
God, what You have done in Jesus is simply beyond my comprehension. I
fail to grasp the magnitude of the perfection of Christ. I know that
for all eternity I will look to the cross of my Lord and stand in
wonder at the immensity of what occurred there. Praises belong to
You, O God. Amen.

For
if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am
I also still judged as a sinner? Romans 3:7

A
third line of reasoning based on man's unclear thinking is given.
"For" looks back to the previous two examples. Paul is
making his case by citing arguments people either had or could give
to justify both their sin and why God should overlook it.

"If
the truth of God has increased through my lie..." God,
throughout His word as well as through the moral compass he has
placed within man, lets us know that sin will be punished. In
punishing sin, God is shown to be the holy Being that He is. His
punishment of our sin because of His holiness demonstrates that He is
truthful in His judgments; He says He will punish and then He follows
through with it. This validates the truth of God to us and thus
brings Him glory.

As
this is true and God is proven truthful and glorified through my
lying, then how can He punish me? I have only increased His glory...
see the great thing I have done! This is the faulty reasoning of the
one attempting to justify his perverse actions.

There
are several points which have to be considered in this. The first is
that the lying is actually intended to do the opposite of what is
claimed here. Lying, in and of itself, is intended to protect and
elevate self, not God. When one lies, it is motivated by and promotes
self-serving interests, not another's glory.

Secondly,
if "the truth of God is increased through my lie to His glory"
because He has promised to judge sin, then if He doesn't judge my
sin, the result would be that the truth of God isn't increased
through my lie at all! The question, "Why am I also still judged
as a sinner" is invalidated by the faulty premise of the
question in the first place.

Finally,
God doesn't need man to be glorified. He is glorious in and of
Himself. The "glory" which is reasoned by the one proposing
the argument is the glory of God in the eyes of His creation, not
God's innate glory. Likewise, the truth of God isn't "increased"
in God - God is truth. Rather the increase is found in our
realization of it. Again, God's character isn't dependent on man and
He isn't dependent on what we think about Him. Our perceptions of Him
don't change His truth or His glory.

The
answer to, "Why am I still judged as a sinner?" is found in
the fact that I am a sinner and I am deserving of punishment based on
my sin. To attempt to justify sin by using faulty reasoning can only
added to my judgment, not somehow fool God into throwing up His hands
and overlooking my misdeeds.

Life
application: There is no excuse for sin and all sin will be dealt
with through punishment. As you go about your day, don't try to
rationalize away your wrongdoings. Once you have accepted that sin
necessitates a penalty, then take the time to give God praise for
what He has done for you in Jesus. The cross of Calvary was a high
price for the sins we so easily dismiss.

Heavenly
Father, when I realize that You have no need for me in order for you
to be glorified, then it makes it all the more incredible that You
were willing to send Jesus to save me. I stand in utter amazement at
the price that was paid for my willful disobedience committed in Your
presence. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

And
why not say, “Let us do
evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as
some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.Romans
3:8

"And
why not say" is Paul's conclusion to the previous concepts which
he has laid before his readers. Is God's faithfulness nullified by
the unfaithfulness of man? Does man's unrighteousness demonstrate the
righteousness of God? Is the truth of God is increased through my lie
to His glory? Each question and its answer has led Paul to say that
if the answers are "yes" then we might as well say "let
us do evil that good may come."

This
line of argumentation is known as reductio ad absurdum or "reduction
to absurdity." If God is somehow positively affected by whatever
evil man does, then let us take the most evil course of all. The idea
is that when we commit temporal evil the result will be the greater
good of glorifying God. If so, then no matter what we do the outcome
justifies the means.

Unfortunately,
this means that stealing would not only be acceptable, but a good
thing. Personal property would have no value. Murder would magnify
God and therefore it would be the right course of action in any
circumstance. Adultery would then be a noble thing. Getting married
would simply be a step towards many partners - all to bring about a
better purpose. For every sin we commit, the glory of God would shine
forth all the more brightly.

The
absurdity of such thoughts is self-evident, but such is the confused
state of the unclear thinker. They only see the results of the first
half of their argument, but they have fail to think the entire
scenario through. As evident as it is, this is the state which the
world is rapidly heading. As one-line arguments fill the cyber-world
of Facebook and Twitter, our ability to reason out important issues
is diminishing.

As
Paul saw in his own time, those around him misunderstood, either
unintentionally or intentionally, his comments about the grace of God
and reported that Paul had actually affirmed that this was what
Christianity held. But he, noting that God's grace is magnified
through the repentant sinner, never went to such extremes. For every
note of how gracious God is, there is a note of warning that those
who call on Jesus need to abstain from willful sin. Grace, to Paul
and the other apostles, never meant a license to commit iniquity.

The
Christian world of today though is turning away from the truth of the
Bible and is actually following the absurd course Paul lays out.
Homosexuals preach from the pulpit. Perversion of all sorts is openly
condoned by the church and yet to them the grace of God is expected
to cover such unrepentant actions. As Paul says, when this attitude
is seen "their condemnation is just." God will judge and
condemn those who hold to such flawed views. They failed to use the
brains He gave them and their actions will result in an eternal swim
in the Lake of Fire. Let us heed the Proverb -

The
first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and
questions him. (18:17)

Life
application: An argument which sounds fine on the surface, such as
allowing abortion for rape or incest is found false when it is
completely thought through. However, most people hear the initial
argument and stop with that, agreeing that the murder of the unborn
is somehow just. When you are presented with an argument, make sure
to think its consequences through to the end. When you do, you may
find that what originally seemed as right as rain is actually as
twisted as a tornado.

Lord
God, You have created me to be a rational, moral being. Help me to
think issues of importance through clearly and to understand the
ramifications of those things which could separate me from You when a
wrong path is taken. May my life be a testimony to Your grace, but
may I never assume that it gives me license to sin. Amen.

What
then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For
we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all
under sin.Romans 3:9

"What
then?" What is the result of the question posed in 3:1 & 2?
"What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit
of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were
committed the oracles of God."

Paul
noted that there is both advantage and profit in being a Jew and
being circumcised. However, he then laid out the case that if their
actions didn't correspond with the sign they bore that God would be
proven just in His judgment of them. He also showed that His
faithfulness isn't negated by their unfaithfulness and that His
receiving glory through their unrighteous actions gave them no excuse
in acting in an unrighteous manner.

And
so he asks "Are we better than they?" In the end, are Jews
better than the gentiles? The answer, "Not at all." In
chapter 1, he proved that the gentiles are bound under sin and then
in chapters 2 and 3 he showed that the Jew are also - "For we
have previously charged..."

The
charges have been made and they have been fully substantiated. "All
are under sin." This is a truth not just found in Paul's
philosophy, but is found in Scripture itself. As Paul notes in
Galatians 3:22 - "But the Scripture has confined all under sin,
that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who
believe."

Yes,
Paul wrote Galatians, but he is citing "Scripture" which at
that time consisted only of the Old Testament. The proof of Paul's
claim comes from the earliest pages of the Bible and continues right
up until its last paragraph. Something more would be needed - Jesus.
As chapter 3 unfolds, we will see this clearly.

Life
application: God has shown in His word that all people are bound
under sin. This doesn't merely mean that we are sinners individually,
but that we are under a broad kingdom of sin. We are trapped in it
and there is only one exit. Take time to read Jesus' words from John
14:1-6 and then stand fast on the truth that Jesus is the only way to
be reconciled to God. Then, determine in your heart not to waffle on
this conviction when confronted by those who challenge it.

Heavenly
Father, I can see that I am no better than any other person. But what
is also true is that no other person is any better than me. All it
takes is one sin for us to be separated from You. Help me to remember
this as I deal with others who seem so much more "sinful"
than I am. We are all in the same desperate need of Jesus. Amen.

As
it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;... Romans
3:10

Today
is the start of a rather long set of quotations selected by Paul
directly from the Scriptures in order to justify his statements and
prove his case. He starts with, "As it is written..." If
the Old Testament (the Scriptures of his day) are truly the word of
God (and he takes this as an axiom), then what they say is absolute
truth and is binding as guidance and instruction.

The
verses he selects will continue through verse 18 and come from
Ecclesiastes, the Psalms, and Isaiah. They will speak of God in
verses 10-12 first as a judge, then in verses 13-15 as an anatomist,
and finally in 16-18 as an anthropologist.

Today
is a close quote of Ecclesiastes 7:20 -

For
there is not a just man on earth who does good
And does
not sin.

From
the first man, Adam, there has been none who have not sinned. Adam
was created as a perfect man, but he lacked the knowledge of good and
evil. This was not a flaw, merely a lack. Something lacking something
else is not necessarily flawed and we cannot ascribe his innocence as
such. In his innocent state, he was given one command. But,
exercising the free will was given, he chose to disobey this command.
This became "fault" or as we would term it "sin."

From
this one man's sin, sin entered not only the world at large, but into
the stream of humanity as well. Sin transfers through man to the next
generation and therefore we are born in sin. David understood this
when he penned these words -

Behold,
I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived
me. Psalm 51:5

The
NIV clearly translates this, "Surely I was sinful at birth."
All people are born into sin and therefore, "There is none
righteous, no, not one."

But
this isn't just a philosophical concept of Solomon which is repeated
by Paul. Rather, it is a truth born out in the historical record of
the Bible as well. In Genesis 4 this truth is highlighted several
times. In verses 3 through 5 offerings are brought to the Lord and
yet there is no record of Cain or Abel having committed any sin. The
Bible therefore implies that because no demonstrable sin was
committed, they had inherited their father's fallen state. This
concept continues to be born out in Cain's murder of Abel and on
through the rest of the Old Testament.

And
yet, from the same early pages of the Bible, all the way through to
Malachi, there are pictures and promises of One who would come to
right the wrong of Adam and thus restore the fellowship that was lost
so long ago. Yes, there is none righteous who is born of man. But
Jesus wasn't born of man; He was born of the Holy Spirit and through
a woman. The sin of Adam didn't transfer to Him.

Life
application: Are you doing works in order to please God and get you
to heaven? Guess what, it won't work. You have already inherited a
problem which works can't fix. You have inherited a nature which
infinitely separates you from God. But there is a remedy. By faith,
put your trust in Jesus and what He did and He can be your bridge
back to a right relationship with His Father. Only then can your
works be found pleasing to God.

Heavenly
Father, thank You for the plan of redemption which includes me... a
sinner in need of a Savior. Thank You for Jesus who would give up His
perfect life in order to restore me to You. I stand in awe of the
majesty of what You have accomplished on my behalf. May my lips ever
sing Your praises, O God. Amen.

There
is none who understands;There is none who seeks after
God. Romans 3:11

Real
care needs to be taken when evaluating quotes in the New Testament
which come from the Old. Anybody can quote anything to come to
whatever conclusion they wish by tearing things out of context. This
is the case with today's verse more often than not. Paul is citing
Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 which are almost a mirror of each other in
their first verse.

If
taken at face value, and without considering both the context and the
rest of Scripture, then one might come to the conclusion that "Man
in his natural state cannot seek God" or something similar to
this. This is the standard conclusion of Calvinist doctrine as well
as some others, especially among those who deny the free will of man
in accepting or rejecting Jesus. However, this is wrong.

Taking
the verse in proper context as Paul would have expected his readers
to do, we see the basis for the original statement which was made by
David in the psalms -

The
fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They
are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none
who does good.

David
had in mind, and was speaking of, the atheist - "The fool has
said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" To make an all-inclusive
claim about this verse as Calvinism does is to completely tear it out
of its original context. We could question, "Are Muslims seeking
after God?" "Are Mormons seeking after God?" "Are
Buddhists seeking after God?" The answer in each case is "Yes.
They are just doing it wrong." Further, if Calvinism were true
and this were an all inclusive statement, then David couldn't have
even written the psalm because "none" would include him.
Such a conclusion is entirely unsupportable by the rest of Scripture.

Enoch
who is recorded in Genesis 5 "walked with God; and he was
not, for God took him." (v. 24). Ruth, a young girl from the
pagan nation of Moab refused to be separated from her mother-in-law
and stated,

"...wherever
you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your
people shall be my people,
And your God, my God."
Ruth 1:16

Speaking
of a time, yet future, Hosea prophesied that the Israelites who had
long rejected God will search Him out in the latter days -

"Afterward
the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord
their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord
and His goodness in the latter days." Hosea 3:5

Those
who seek after God, from both within the covenant people of Israel
and those from without, are noted time and time again Scripture.
Therefore, that this verse today is not "all inclusive" is
as evident as water is wet.

Having
determined this we can acknowledge that there is "none who
understands" God in the fullest sense. If they did, they would
be God because only God who is infinite can fully know Himself. It is
also true that without His special revelation to us "there is
none who seeks after God" perfectly. To perfectly seek after God
would imply a perfect knowledge of how to do so. But, in His wisdom,
God sent us Jesus to reveal the Father in a way which we can
understand. When we look to Jesus, we see the Father (John 14:7).

By
showing us who the Father is, we now have the ability to properly
pursue God and to accurately understand Him as He continually,
ceaselessly is revealed by the Son. It will be an eternal adventure
for us if we are willing to start the trip. Jesus offers any to come
unto Him and when they do the journey begins. It is not forced upon
us, nor are we first "regenerated" in order to accept the
offer as those who deny free will must claim. Rather, we are given
the free-will to choose and the mental faculties to make the choice.

Life
Application: The fact that God already knows what we will choose in
no way negates our responsibility in the matter. Don't be the fool
David wrote about and whom Paul analyzes in today's verse. Rather,
think it through and understand that God has given us all we need in
order to make the right decision. Now it is up to each of us to do
so. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

Lord,
Your word is sure and without contradiction. If those throughout the
history recorded in it have sought You out, then so can I. And so I
commit my life to Jesus and look forward to eternally learning more
about You. What a great and awesome God You are! Amen.

They
have all turned aside;They have together become
unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:12

This
verse, taken from Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1, is to be taken in a
general sense. The gentile has turned away from the natural
revelation given by God which is written in our hearts and
consciences. The Jew has turned away from the special revelation he
has been given by God and toward apostasy. Paul has shown this in the
chapters and verses leading up to this conclusion. Because the Jew
has the natural revelation and also the special revelation and yet
they still turn from God, it shows the truly depraved nature of man.

And
so, both Jew and gentile have "together become unprofitable."
The Greek of this word is echreothesan. It has been variously
translated as worthless, useless, completely useless, unprofitable,
rejected, rotten to the core, corrupt, etc. The word from which it
stems in the Hebrew has the idea of something offensive or putrid.
The corresponding word in Arabic is used to describe sour milk. In
man, it is the state of moral impurity which is vile and degraded.

Because
of these things, the result is that "there is none who does
good, no, not one." As noted in the previous verse, care needs
to be exercised here. The portion of the psalm being quoted is
specifically speaking of the atheist - "The fool has said in his
heart, 'There is no God.'" It would be contradictory to
Scripture, even Paul's writings, and yes even the book of Romans and
the very thoughts which he is presenting, to apply this to all people
in an absolute sense. For example in Romans 2:14, 15 Paul shows that
there are gentiles who "by nature do the things in the law."
He then explains this and other notable traits throughout the rest of
chapter 2. This must, by definition, be considered as "good."

So
Paul is clearly not saying, as Calvinism claims, that man is entirely
incapable of doing good or seeking after God. Rather, this is the
general, not absolute, tendency of man. Having said this, when Paul
writes, "there is none who does good, no, not one" it isn't
at all contradictory. The sin in man - both inherited from Adam and
committed personally, places a barrier between God and man. It is
impossible for man to please God unless the sin is dealt with first.
And so truly, "there is none who does good, no, not one."

Making
the leap from not being good to not being capable of doing
good is a category mistake. There may be nothing good in us, but
this does not mean we cannot see the good in God (or in His
revelation of Himself - either natural or special) and pursue it. We
see the good in Him and either choose or reject that. Is it the
confused soul who says that man has free will to commit evil, but
denies the free will to pursue what is good, even if erringly.

Life
application: Ideas, concepts, biblical truths, evaluations of man's
relationship with God, etc. all have individual categories which must
be kept separate and distinct. When we take one concept from the
Bible and inappropriately apply it to, or over, another our thinking
on what is biblically correct becomes skewed. Keep the boxes straight
and fix your eyes on Jesus.

Heavenly
Father, You have shown us what is good, both internally in our hearts
and in a specific way in the Bible. And then You have allowed us the
choice of pursuing it or going our own way. Help us to choose what
will be pleasing in Your sight and by following Jesus who guides the
path. In His name we pray. Amen.

“Their
throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced
deceit”; Romans 3:13

In
this verse and the next two verses come quotes from the One who
created the human body. As the designer of man, God understands the
intended use of the parts of the body and He also understands both
what they can represent metaphorically and also how they can be
misused.

In
these three verses, the throat, the tongue, the lips, and the mouth
are noted in order and then the feet are mentioned. The order starts
with the internal most part and works outward - throat, tongue, and
lips. It then is summed up in the visible notation of the three
combined - the mouth. It is as if we are visibly watching a person
vomiting out wickedness.

After
this will be noted the feet. Once the heart's wickedness is expelled
from the mouth, the feet are used to carry it everywhere they go. The
imagery is shocking when considered as intended. Verse 13 is a quote
from the 5th Psalm, and is taken more specifically from the Greek
translation of that Psalm known as the Septuagint. Noted below are
the Hebrew (NKJV) and Greek (LXX) translations:

For
there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward
part is destruction;
Their throat is an open
tomb;
They flatter with their tongue. (NKJV)

For
there is no truth in their mouth;

their
heart is vain;

their
throat is an open sepulchre;

with
their tongues they have used deceit. (LXX)

As
with any quote from the Old Testament, the context needs to be
considered. The quote is specifically speaking about "boasters"
and "workers of iniquity" (v5) and "those who speak
falsehood" and "the bloodthirsty and deceitful man"
(v6). Therefore, this verse, as with the previous verses, is not
intended as an all-encompassing indictment, but is directed to those
who practice such ways.

The
throat of these people is compared to an open grave. The grave is the
repository for the dead. If the grave is left open, the stench of the
decaying body is left uncovered and it affects everything around it.
The words which proceed from such a person are intended to reduce
anyone around to a nauseas state, even to despair.

At
the same time as being a place from which stench and putridity
arises, the grave is open to receive more corpses - even until it is
filled. The mouth which speaks such abominations not only offends, it
destroys and consumes. Because it does it will continue to put out a
vile odor as those it receives begin to rot. This is the state of
mind we are intended to see. Those who speak falsehood and who are
bloodthirsty reek with wickedness, destroy others, and cause them to
reek with their decay. It is a repetitious and increasing cycle which
is never satisfied.

All
of this proceeds from the heart, through the open throat, and then
off the tongue. The symbolism of these body parts is so vivid and
correct because God who designed them knows how easily they can be
misused.

Life
application: Our words have consequences. When they are used
properly, they are edifying of others, honoring to ourselves, and
glorifying of God. When they are used in a wrong manner, they cause
harm to those who receive them and they will be used as a tool of
judgment against us (Matthew 12:36). Let us determine in our hearts
to use our words carefully and in a manner which is good and right,
not in evil and wickedness.

Jesus,
may You be with me and remind me that the words I speak have power to
help or to harm, to glorify or demean, to build up or to tear down.
May the words of my lips only be used in a positive and honoring way.
I know that what they ultimately reflect is the state of my heart, so
change my heart to be pure, noble, and right. This I pray to Your
glory. Amen.

“Whose
mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
Romans 3:14

Paul's
next quote is from Psalm 10:7 -

His
mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;
Under his
tongue is trouble and iniquity.

Under
divine inspiration, Paul has amended David's words while maintaining
the overall intent of what he was saying. Anyone who opens his mouth
in deceit and oppression is himself a person of bitterness. The
cursing of man can be accomplished in several ways and in different
directions. Man can curse God who created Him. This can be done
directly or indirectly. An attack against the unseen God or upon
Jesus who reveals God would be a direct curse. A person who speaks
against God's word indirectly attacks God because the word of God
issues from Him.

An
act of cursing God directly is found in Leviticus 24:10-23. The
penalty for the one who did this was to be stoned to death.

Cursing
can be against others as well. An example of this is found in 2
Samuel 16 when a man cursed King David as he fled from his son who
had revolted against him -

Now
when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of
the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera,
coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And
he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. 2
Samuel 16:5, 6

The
bitterness which Paul speaks of is rooted in the heart of man and
pours out in his words. Jesus, while speaking to Israel's leaders
showed us this in Matthew 12. There He revealed that we cannot
disassociate what we say from who we are -

“Either
make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and
its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.Brood
of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.A good man out of
the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil
man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. Matthew
12:33-35

Life
application: Our words are a reflection of the state of our heart.
How we speak about God, His word, and the things He has created
reflect our relationship with Him. How we speak to and about others
shows others our concern for those He has created and for whom He
sent His Son to die. Although we have every right to speak out
against evil and the perverse ways of the world, we need to ensure
that our words rightly reflect the truth without promoting evil.
Others are watching and evaluating us as Christians. And as
Christians we represent Christ.

Lord
God, if my words are unpleasing in Your sight, then come in and
change my heart. Help me to be a person whose words are truthful and
which edify others, call out sin and evil without becoming a part of
the problem, and which ultimately bring You the glory You deserve.
Amen.

“Their
feet are swift to shed blood;... Romans
3:15

This
verse is taken first from Solomon in the book of Proverbs -

For
their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
Proverbs 1:16

Isaiah
builds upon it in his writings as well -

Their
feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed innocent
blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting
and destruction are in their paths. Isaiah 59:7

The
heart has shown its state - the words have come up from the throat,
they have been shaped by the tongue and passed through the lips (v
13), from there they have issued from the mouth (v 14). Now the words
are carried into action. The first recorded sin in the Bible outside
of Eden was the murder of Abel by Cain. Adam's sin in Eden separated
man from his Creator. Cain's sin in the fallen world separated man
from man. Abel sacrificed animal life to his God for restoration;
Cain sacrificed human life out of jealousy, leading to condemnation.

Within
about 1600 years of Cain's crime, the world had become so wicked that
God destroyed it by flood. The same pattern occurs time and again
throughout the post-flood world. At the time of King Manasseh it says
that he, "shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled
Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made
Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord."
2 Kings 21:16

The
world is once again at a state of such violence and degradation, that
human life has little value. The process of abortion is a mill of
death. Euthanasia has become an acceptable method of human disposal,
murder rates in cities such as Chicago are higher than war deaths in
Afghanistan. TV shows and newscasts are so filled with crime scenes
that one cannot determine reality from Hollywood. All of this stems
from the intent of the heart. Jeremiah rightly called out the words
of the Lord as he looked at the world around him -

The
heart is deceitful above all things,
And
desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord,
search the heart,I test the mind,
Even to give
every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his
doings. Jeremiah 17:9, 10

Life
application: Yes, the Lord does search the heart and He is able to
heal its desperately wicked state, but it takes moving from the
fallen world to the risen Christ. Without this action, there can be
no true peace. Take time to learn the following five verses which
show how to make this move. Think about them and how you can rightly
explain them to others. Then go and share the message -

1)
There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10

2)
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans
3:23

3)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

4)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

5)
For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13

Glorious
God, despite our wicked hearts, You sent us Your Son to reconcile us
to You. Help each of us to commit to telling others about Jesus and
His beautiful deeds which can restore the bridge between us. Help us
to get our priorities right and to never waste an opportunity to
share this good news of peace and restoration. Amen.

Destruction
and miseryarein their ways;
Romans 3:16

This
verse is a quote from the second half of Isaiah 59:7 -

Their
feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed innocent blood;

Their
thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting and
destruction are in their paths.

The
ways of those who reject God lead to "destruction and misery."
The Greek word translated as "destruction" is suntrimma
and this is its only use in the New Testament. It comes from the idea
of dashing something to pieces. "Misery" comes from the
Greek talaiporia, a word found only one other time in the
Bible - James 5:1. It indicates a state of wretchedness.

It
is evident that these words are not applicable to all people at all
times. Rather they apply to a state of corruption which exists in the
hearts of people and which is brought out when a denial of God
exists. This is important to remember because, as was noted in a
previous quote, these words cannot be found to imply that unregnerate
man is unable to seek after God as Calvinism claims. These are
generalities about humanity which can lead to specific extremes in
humanity - such as Khan, Hitler, Stalin, etc.

The
opposite is true as well. There a those who pursue peace who haven't
been called by Jesus. Perhaps they refuse to bear arms against others
or spend their lives ministering to others, even though they aren't
saved believers. This is important to note in order to gain a proper
understanding of how one comes to saving faith. It is often true that
the worst offenders will see their need for Jesus before the one who
is always helping others and doing good stuff.

The
truly depraved person, when confronted with the truth of the gospel,
may fully understand their condemned state and seek for pardon. The
kind, gentle, and humble person when given the gospel may shun it
because they feel they are already good enough and that the balances
tip in their favor or maybe they are at the top of the bell curve.

Neither
of these understandings would lead to the choice of accepting or
rejecting the gospel without free-will. Instead, they would continue
down their chosen path without a second thought. If man doesn't
possess free will, the evil of the person described in today's verse
would have to be traced back to the fall of man who didn't possess
free will and thus the blame would be elevated back to the Creator;
such is impossible as God is perfect and holy in all ways.

Therefore,
the wicked state of those described by Paul is a personal choice
acting upon the already corrupt state of man. It is a choice which is
reflected in Matthew 7:13 - "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide
is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it." Jesus asks us
to make the right choice because the wrong one will end in the
destruction and misery noted in this same verse.

Life
Application: If you're struggling with the doctrine of free-will in
man because you were originally instructed that you don't possess it,
then think the issue through to its logical conclusion at the fall of
man - ascribing the fall to God. The question is, "Do you have
free will?" The reply - "Think it through and then you
decide."

Lord,
You have been so gracious to Your fallen creatures. You have given us
the choice to choose You, but time and time again we choose the
opposite. And yet You continuously call us back to You, giving us the
chance to turn and call on You in truth. Help us to think rightly and
to make the choice of life and peace... the choice of Jesus. Thank
You for Jesus. Amen.

And
the way of peace they have not known. Romans 3:17

Again
Paul turns to the words of Isaiah to substantiate man's general
character and disposition -

The
way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice
in their ways;
They have made themselves crooked paths;
Whoever
takes that way shall not know peace. Isaiah 59:8

There
are several ways in which the "way of peace" can be
demonstrated. Here are four:

1)
In oneself. A life of peace in an individual must start with
contentment in one's station. If a person is content, then a hovel
and a bowl of rice soup is sufficient for peace. If a person's eyes
are full of greed and want, a mansion with a table of feasting will
never satisfy. One must appreciate the gifts God has given in order
to have peace in oneself. If such appreciation doesn't exist it can
only lead to internal toil and boil over in our actions toward
others.

2)
Toward others. Peace and contentment in oneself naturally keeps one
from harming others, but when it is lacking, the greed and lust of
the heart spills over in our actions - be it individually or as a
group or nation. Harming others then becomes an satisfactory means of
obtaining what we want. We rationalize reasons why theft is
acceptable and move toward the subjugation and oppression of those
who have earned their way. As noted, this stems from a lack of
contentment in our own station. This frustration is taken out on
others, but it inevitably directs the blame toward God.

3)
Toward God. Peace with God comes from an appreciation of His goodness
and an understanding of His sovereignty. When one feels jipped by
their circumstances, they will find fault in God. The sentiment "It's
not my fault I was born here..." would necessarily place the
blame on God who made the choice. But Acts says, "And He has
made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of
the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the
boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in
the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not
far from each one of us..." (vs. 26, 27)

God,
who is infinitely wiser than man, has selected our time, place, and
position to be the very best possible moment in which we will seek
Him out. In other words, a person born in Honduras in AD1630 would no
more search out God than he would if born in New York city in 2013.
God knows this and determines that which is the very best for His
creatures, and yet we reject Him. Proof that this is true is that
there is a Bible on practically every shelf and accessible from every
computer on earth and yet, even with this opportunity, it is ignored.
In America, there are churches on every corner and yet they are
closing due to a lack of interest. "The way of peace they have
not known..." This lack of contentment in self which then
overflows towards others and is ultimately blamed on God results in
unholy instruction within family and society.

4)
In Instruction. When the way of peace is unknown, the venues of life
instruction follow a course of wickedness. The raising of children
disregards education in the Bible, in respect, in honor, and in right
living. School systems turn towards a liberal agenda and "tolerance"
for that which is profane. This carries from kindergarten to college.
Young minds are perverted from what is normal and the developed minds
are perverted from what is reasonable. Society itself rejects the
truth and turns to a news media which is based on feelings rather
than objective journalism. Churches no longer preach doctrinal
truths, but instead provide soft messages without any real substance.
As these institutions continue to turn away from soundness, the only
thing which cannot be tolerated is "intolerance." But even
this is self-contradictory and so vile emotions are spewed out at
those who pursue peace and reason.

In
the end, the pattern repeats itself and the world ends in a state
which is no longer worthy of anything but destruction. At the time of
the flood, a mere 1600 years after the creation of the world, Genesis
6:5 says that "Then the Lordsaw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually.” Of course, this resulted in a global flood
which took the lives of all but eight people.

God's
people, Israel, have been destroyed and exiled twice because they
followed this same pattern and the church is now following it as
well. At the rapture of the church, there will only be strife against
God leading to the Tribulation period. All because "they have
not known the way of peace."

Life
application: It is unreasonable to love others into hell through
tolerance. That which is against God - be it in the general society
or in the church - must be identified and called out. If not, there
is eventually a breakdown in right moral thinking. This is especially
true with our religious leaders. If they depart from what is right or
deflect attention away from Jesus, their words or actions must be
shown for what they are. Judgment begins at the house of the Lord and
so the house of the Lord must proclaim the way of peace - Jesus.

Lord,
please be with those who teach Your word. Give them strength and
wisdom to properly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ and to never
water down the severity of the consequences of rejecting Him. Give
them soundness of doctrine and clearness in their thinking. This, to
Your honor and glory. Amen.

There
is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:18

This
is the final quote in this train of thought and is taken from Psalm
36:1 -

An
oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the
wicked:There is no fear of God before his eyes.

"Fear
of God" is speaking of awe and reverence. When we have these it
will bring about an understanding of our own fallen nature in
relation to God. Time and again in Scripture, when one is brought
close to God the person finds himself overwhelmed at the majesty of
His presence. Such is the case in Isaiah 6. When Isaiah had a vision
of the Lord, he cried out -

“Woe
is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of
unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord
of hosts.”

One
of Israel's holy men stood in awe at what he witnessed, but the
people Paul is speaking about shun the glory of God and in their
hearts there is only contempt for Him. These past quotes from the Old
Testament show us several things. First, the Jew cannot hope to be
saved simply because of their heritage. Their own word testifies
against them. Paul spoke about this in detail and then provided these
quotes, directly from their own sacred writings, to show this is
true.

Secondly,
what these verses show us is the character of human nature in
general, not specifically any given man. They are a broad brushstroke
of how humanity is displayed from the creation until today. There was
the flood to correct it. There was the cleansing of the land of
Canaan by the Israelites to correct it. There was the purging of
Israel from their land (twice) to correct it. And there will be the
tribulation period of the future to once again destroy wickedness.
Humanity, when left to his own devices will shun God and choose the
path of destruction.

Third,
the corruption of man proceeds from the innermost depths of who he is
and it proceeds outward in a vile display of how he presents himself.
This is symbolized by the mentioning of the parts in order - throat,
tongue, lips, mouth, and then feet. The corruption spreads outward
and is carried far and wide.

When
man forgets God and sets his feet on an evil path, only wickedness
can follow. This is so, so very important to remember because as a
nation, the United States has set its feet upon this course. We have
condoned that which is forbidden; we have spoken that which is vile;
we have spread that which is wicked; and we have lost our fear of
God. Unless the people return to the Bible as its source for
instruction and guidance, we will come under God's continued hand of
chastisement, eventually leading to destruction. It is the church
which must lead the way in this endeavor.

Life
application: When the fear of God is lost, only unrighteousness can
follow. We must stand up for what is right and not allow ourselves to
be caught up in the eddy of moral degradation which surrounds us.
Stand firm on the tenets in the Bible and be ready to defend them
above all else. There is one standard by which we will right the
wrongs around us and it is found there.

O
God, please renew in me a reverent fear of who You are and the glory
You possess. Forgive me for not treating Your name in a manner which
will magnify You. Help me to be a light and a guide to others so that
they will see You for who You truly are - the One worthy of all our
praise, honor, and devotion. Amen.

Now
we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become guilty before God. Romans 3:19

Paul
sums up his argumentation in this verse and will draw his final
conclusion in the next. "Now we know" is his way of saying
- "See, the evidence is clear, it is concise, it is fully
substantiated, and it is irrefutable." And so we know "that
whatever the law says" is given to mean whichever law applies to
the addressee. To the Jew, it is the Law of Moses and to the gentile
it is natural law clearly revealed to us and which Paul carefully
explained in Romans 1.

These
laws are the facts to be presented in a judicial proceeding. Whatever
the law says, "it says to those who are under the law."
Whichever law applies - be it to Jew or gentile - it is spoken to
that group. In the case of the Jew, it is actually both laws because
despite having the Law of Moses, they also have the natural law. They
are accountable in both cases, but by whichever law, the evidence is
clear; the charges have been presented and so "every mouth may
be stopped."

This
phrase is alluded to in the Old Testament such as in Job 5:16 -

So
the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.

Every
mouth being stopped means that the evidence is so overwhelming that
no valid reply can be made in response to it. At the judgment, nobody
will be able to say, "but I didn't know." We have received
enough of God's revelation to condemn us. For the gentile it is
conscience mixed with reason - "We exist; we didn't create
ourselves; and therefore, we were created by another who has shown
Himself through the rest of His creative works." For the Jew the
argument was drawn directly from the authority they claim as the
basis for their culture - Scripture. Paul has demonstrated from the
source of what establishes them as a people that they are guilty.

A
clear example for us to understand this is to simply change "Jew"
to "Christian" and include the New Testament. You who claim
to be a Christian, have you met the requirements of being a
Christian? There is one source for such a claim - the Bible which
tells of Jesus. It is the basis of our faith. If it can be
demonstrated from this source that we haven't met the requirements of
the title, then we are found as false Christians.

Paul
has shown that no gentile can be saved by natural revelation and no
Jew can meet the demands of the law perfectly and therefore "every
mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before
God." The term "become guilty" is the Greek word
hupodikos. This is its only use in the New Testament. It means
to be "liable to the judgment of."

The
sum of Paul's thoughts to this point then is that when the judgment
comes - for both Jew and gentile - the verdict is to be "guilty"
and there can be no appeal. God's revelation of Himself condemns us.
If this were the end of the story, it would be a sad story indeed.
What value would it be to go on? What purpose would there be in doing
any good at all? For what then did God create - just to destroy His
creatures? The story would make no sense at all.

The
next verse will conclude this line of Paul's thoughts and will show
the utter futility of existence without Jesus Christ. But verse 20
will open a new page for the condemned soul.

Life
application: If we somehow feel that we are pleasing to God in and of
ourselves, then we have made an immense error. God has given us His
law and we have broken that same law. Thank God that the story
doesn't end there. Take time today to reflect on the glory of Jesus
Christ. Without Him, there would be no purpose to our existence, but
in Him life again has meaning.

Heavenly
Father, thank You that the story didn't end with the giving of the
law. Thank you that grace and mercy have been found in Jesus Christ.
I fear the law, and rightly so, because it shows my own fallen state.
But yet I rejoice in the law as it was fulfilled in Jesus. And so
through Him I pour out my praises to You. Amen.

Therefore
by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for
by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans
3:20

"Therefore"
indicates Paul's final conclusion of the issue he has been
addressing. The case has been presented and the lawyer has given his
closing argument. Now comes the final statement, "Therefore..."

Paul
has been speaking of the law in two ways, natural law as revealed to
the gentile and the Mosaic law as revealed to the people of Israel.
It wouldn't logically follow that this verse suddenly drops the
natural law to speak only of the law of Moses. Therefore, "by
deeds of the law" is certainly speaking of man's efforts to
please God under either law.

In
other words, someone who isn't under the law of Moses who goes about
doing good stuff cannot expect to be justified in God's sight. Nor
can someone who is under the law of Moses expect to meet its
requirements and thus be justified before God. In both cases, "by
the law is the knowledge of sin."

For
the gentile, the natural law tells us internally that there is a gap
between us and God. There will always be a state of uncertainty about
our eternal state because deep inside we know that the things we've
done have separated us from Him. For the Jew who has the written law,
there is the same knowledge. When they objectively look at the law
and then compare their deeds to what it calls for, the honest soul
will acknowledge that they haven't measured up.

Of
course, there are those under both the natural law and the written
law who feel they are above what they see; there are those who feel
these things don't apply to them individually; there are those who
completely reject the premise; etc. These attitudes in no way negate
what is obvious, but merely further demonstrate the righteousness of
God who has so revealed Himself.

In
the end, Paul says that by "deeds of the law no flesh" - no
person who has ever lived - "will be justified in His sight."
The law merely condemns us. It is a sad and seemingly hopeless state
in which man finds himself.

"By
the law is the knowledge of sin" and, after all, the wages of
sin is death. If this were the end of the book of Romans, it would be
better for us that we had never been born. Or for those of us who are
alive, it would be a pointless existence of knowing that death was
coming and which would be followed by an eternal separation from the
very Source of our existence. For all eternity our mind would
contemplate, "Why did He even create me?"

But
Paul's words do continue and they will show us the magnificence of
what God has done for His wayward creatures!

Life
application: The divide already exists between God and you and there
is no deed or deeds that you can accomplish in order restore the
bridge. But God, in His infinite goodness has provided the bridge
Himself. As you contemplate your state before Him today, think on the
perfection of what He has done through Christ Jesus. What a great
God!

Heavenly
Father, I know that I have failed You time and time again. I know
that the law You have given me only shows me this more clearly. By
it, I realize that I need something more to be pleasing to You. I
need a Substitute to meet the law in my place... I need Jesus. Thank
You for Jesus who did what I could never do. Hallelujah and Amen.

But
now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, Romans 3:21

After
two chapters of laying out a defense against the possibility of man
somehow being justified before God on his own merits, Paul now brings
in words of amazing relief to the fallen soul. The word "but"
is used to show the contrast between the case he has so meticulously
laid out and the introduction of new evidence which can be submitted
in man's defense. However, the new evidence is actually something
"witnessed by the Law and the Prophets."

This
term, the "Law and the Prophets" is used to indicate the
entire body of Scripture known as the Old Testament. In other words
this new evidence is not being introduced apart from Scripture,
instead it has been continuously proclaimed throughout Scripture. The
evidence is new to Paul's argument, not to the basis for it.

What
he submits now is that "the righteousness of God apart from the
law is revealed." The law has done its job; it has revealed
man's fallen and condemned state before God. There is no hope of
being justified before Him without something "apart from"
it, but there is in fact something apart from it. The necessary
righteousness has been revealed and so we are taken right back to
Romans 1:17 -

"For
in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it
is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'”

The
faith is for "everyone who believes" the gospel of Christ
(see verse 16). It is this act which brings the righteousness of God
to fallen man. Now that this is understood, it is necessary to
evaluate what this actually means. There is a sharp divergence of
thought at this point between the ideologies of John Calvin and Jacob
Arminius. Calvinism teaches that it is an imputed righteousness,
whereas Arminius claims it is an imparted righteousness.

Imputation
means to "ascribe" or "credit" something. This
then would mean someone is counted as righteous, whether they
actually are or not. Impartation signifies "to give"
something. If righteousness is imparted, it would me that the
believer is infused with righteousness; they actually "become"
righteous. To understand more clearly perhaps it is best to turn
these two into statements of declaration -

Imputation:
I believe the gospel and therefore I am counted as righteous.

Impartation:
I believe the gospel and therefore I am righteous.

The
body of evidence is that Christ's righteousness is imputed to the
believer actually at this time, but that Christ's
righteousness is imparted to the believer potentially, being
actually reserved for a future time. Man is justified before God by
faith in Jesus Christ, but he is not actually righteous at this time.
He continues to sin after salvation (a good example of this in Peter
is found in Galatians 2:13-16 and in Paul see 2 Corinthians 11:29).

However,
Paul indicates that in God's mind we are both glorified (Romans 8:30)
and seated in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6) even
though we are actually still on earth and living out our lives. What
has been accomplished in the eternal state is still future to us in
our temporal reality. Hebrews 11:39, 40 is another set of verses
which show us that this is so -

"And
all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, God having provided something better for us,
that they should not be made perfect apart from us."

These
things may seem like hair-splitting, but they are of great importance
when thought through. Our current relationship with God, our ability
to lose our salvation, our rewards and losses are all contingent on
such issues. Having incorrect ideas concerning these things can only
lead us down unhappy avenues in our Christian life and so it is good
to get them right.

Life
Application: Are you now righteous because of Christ's work, or are
you counted as righteous because of Christ's work? Others are
evaluating you and making their decisions about Christianity based on
your attitude, and this is reflected in what you believe to be true.
Don't think more highly of yourself than you should lest you fall and
bring discredit upon Jesus' name.

O
God, I know that even now, even after having called on Jesus as Lord,
I am unrighteous in and of myself. My thoughts stray, my actions
often belie the Name I bear, and I fail you continuously. And yet in
Your rich goodness to me, You have counted me as righteous because of
the work of Jesus. Help me to be conformed to His image more and more
each day so that I reflect the goodness You have already lavished
upon me. Amen.

...even
the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and
on all who believe. For there is no difference; Romans 3:22

It
will help to understand this verse better by returning to verse 21
along with it -

But
now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on
allwho believe. For there is no difference...

"The
righteousness of God" noted here is not a law-based
righteousness in and of itself, although the law does play a part in
it. Paul says it is "apart from the law" though, so this
must be carefully considered. To us the righteousness of God is a
faith-based righteousness. Paul has shown that all are under a
sentence of condemnation because of the law (be it natural or
Mosaic); we simply cannot measure up to what God has revealed to us.

However,
Jesus could and did. He was born without inherited sin and He lived
perfectly without ever violating God's law. Now, by faith in His work
the righteousness of God is imputed to us. This goes back to the
concept of being declared righteous simply by taking God at His word.
This was the case with Abraham in Genesis 15:6 -

"And
he believed in the Lord,
and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

By
simple faith in what seemed otherwise impossible, God declared
Abraham righteous. This is the consistent theme throughout the Bible.
God knows our weakness and so He asks for us to trust Him and His
promises. When we do, "the righteousness of God" is
revealed in us and it is based on faith in what Jesus Christ did.

Many
translations state here "through the faith of Jesus Christ"
instead of "through faith in Jesus Christ." Actually, it is
possible to have the faith "of" Jesus Christ by faith "in"
Jesus Christ and so either is possible. The phrase "faith of
Jesus Christ" is in what is known as the genitive form.
Therefore, this is speaking about Jesus' faith which He imparts to
those who believe.

In
order to understand this, we can go to Ephesians 2:8, 9 -

"For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works,
lest anyone should boast."

The
grace and the faith combined are the gift of God and they are
bestowed upon us because of the merits of Jesus Christ "to all
and on all who believe." Simple faith is the key to
reconciliation with God the Father and it is faith in the
accomplished work of Jesus. What a great bargain!

This
verse ends with "For there is no difference..." This
thought continues on into the next verse, but the idea here is that
there is no "distinction." Things can differ without having
any real distinction. But there is more than just difference between
Jew and Gentile and natural law and the Mosaic law; there is a
distinction which is made - until Jesus enters the picture. When He
does, all distinctions are set aside.

Life
application: Today, take time to look back over your life - at the
innumerable things you've done which are contrary to what is good.
Little lies, secret faults of the heart, open rebellion - whatever it
may be. Your sins have separated you from your God. And yet all of
that is washed away, cleansed, and purified by Someone else's work,
by simple faith in what He did. Think on this and give God the glory
for the giving of His Son for you.

Lord
Jesus, how can it be that You would give Your perfect life in
exchange for my imperfections, flaws, and open rebellion? I stand
amazed at what You have done for me. And yet it is more than just me,
but anyone who will simply call out to You in faith. Every soul who
looks to You will stand spotless and pure because of Your work...
amazing. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

...for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,... Romans
3:23

Guilty!
Paul laid out a clear and concise argument demonstrating that all
people, both Jew and Gentile, are under the same condemnation. There
is no person who has attained to God's glory, either innately or
through works, that can expect to be exempt from His righteous
judgment.

Every
person ever born was born through man who originally traces back to
Adam. Thus, without even committing any misdeeds, we have already
inherited his sin. As we are in a continuum of time which is ever
moving forward, we cannot go back before Adam to reverse the fall.
David's words from the 51st Psalm remind us that we were "sinful
at birth."

And
as shown, not only did we inherit sin, we have added sin upon sin
thus further separating us from the glory of God. This verse today,
taken in conjunction with John 3:18, clearly lays out our hopeless
state -

"He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already,..." John 3:18

The
following truths are revealed - 1) All people, Jew and Gentile alike,
inherited sin which separates us from God. 2) Our inherited state
condemns us. There is nothing we need to do to be condemned, it is a
fact of our birth. 3) There is no way for us to improve our station
before God; our works cannot please Him and only further condemn us.

Were
it up to us, all hope of reconciliation and restoration would be
futile. But as we've seen and as we will continue to see, God has
done the work for us. He has restored the bridge over the chasm. He
has worked salvation by Himself. All of it has been done by Him and
all of it will glorify Him. It is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! All hail the
name of Jesus!

Life
application: When you look at others don't forget today's verse, but
instead remember it and use it as a tool to prompt you to tell them
about Jesus. Without Jesus, they will never know peace and
reconciliation with God, but will instead be eternally separated from
Him. Your words and your actions toward them may have eternal
consequences, so don't be silent about Jesus.

Lord
God Almighty, I know that I have sinned and acted in a way which sets
me against You. There is a chasm between us which I could never
cross, but in Your goodness You sent Your Son, Jesus, to restore the
breech. Now I know He can put His divine hand upon You and His human
hand upon me and make peace between us once again. Thank You for
Jesus. Amen.

...being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus,... Romans 3:24

This
thought ties directly back to verse 22. "The righteousness of
God" is bestowed upon all who believe - both Jew and Gentile who
alike are under the penalty of sin. Now, because of the grace of
Jesus Christ, we are "justified freely." We, in other
words, are treated as if we had kept the law and were perfectly
righteous even though this isn't the case at all. Such is the nature
of grace - it is unmerited favor granted to those who demonstrate
mere faith in the work of Jesus.

Because
it is by grace, we merit no favor at all in the decision; it has come
"freely." The word here is the Greek dorean and it
carries the intent of standing in opposition to anything which was
purchased or earned through work or industry. No claim of personal
effort can be made to that which was granted. Rather, all the honor
and all of the gratitude is to be given to the One who bestows the
grace - "To God be the glory." He has done it all for those
who could do none of it. As the psalmist says, so we must say -

Not
unto us, O Lord, not
unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your
mercy,
Because of Your truth. (115:1)

We
now stand justified and free from sin's penalty "through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The term "through the
redemption" comes from a root word which indicates the price
paid to redeem a prisoner of war. It signifies liberty from
captivity, bondage, or imprisonment. We are born into sin and we are
prisoners of sin, held in bondage by its power and are kept by the
master of sin, the devil. This is confirmed by the devil's words to
Jesus in Luke 4 where he stated that "All this authority I will
give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me,
and I give it to whomever I wish." Sin is a firm bond and the
devil is a cruel taskmaster. However, Jesus' mission was to destroy
this power. John notes this as the principle reason for His coming -

"He
who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8

Jesus
prevailed where Adam failed. What the devil gained through Adam's
disobedience, Jesus regained through His obedience. What God asks is
that we simply believe this message, receive His gift, and place our
trust in what Jesus has done for us. This is the "redemption
that is in Christ Jesus." This is the marvel of what God has
done for us. In Him there is absolute victory and complete
reconciliation with God the Father.

Life
application: Do you often feel defeated by sin's power? Jesus Christ
has defeated the devil and broken the bonds which held us. We are now
free from the power of sin, protected from the penalty of sin, and
someday we shall be taken from the presence of sin - all because of
Jesus. Take time to reflect on what He has done and then put your
thoughts into action by standing on the freedom for which Christ has
set you free!

Dear
Lord, I look to what You have done through Jesus and I am humbled by
it. Through Him, You have cancelled sin's penalty; through Him, You
have defeated sin's power; and through Him, some day I shall be
removed from sin's presence. I have complete victory through the work
of Jesus and the devil has no power or claim upon me. Hallelujah and
Amen.

...whom
God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed,Romans 3:25

Continuing
from the previous verse, Paul says that "...the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth." This term in Greek is
proetheto and signifies a public display of some sort. In the
case of Jesus, it was the cross of Calvary where He was exposed to
public humiliation and death. This wasn't done in a back alley where
no one could witness it, but it was done in the public setting of the
people of the law, the temple of God, and in the presence of the
angels who ministered to Him. God set forth His own Son for all to
see and understand the action for what it was - "a propitiation
by His blood."

The
term "propitiation" is of immense importance here. It is
the Greek word hilasterion. It is a sin-offering or a
"covering" of sin by the blood which is shed. Its purpose
is to bring together parties at odds with each other and to restore a
favorable relationship; to make things propitious again. This word is
used only one other time in the New Testament, in Hebrews 9:5 where
it is translated as "mercy seat" -

"...and
above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of
these things we cannot now speak in detail."

It
is the same word which is used in the Greek translation of the Old
Testament in Exodus 25:17 (and elsewhere) when describing the Hebrew
word kapporeth, or "mercy seat." The mercy seat is
where the covering of blood was applied to the Ark of the Covenant on
the Day of Atonement and which restored felicity between God and His
people for another year. But the Day of Atonement, like all of the
Bible, required something more than rote ritual. It required faith
that it would accomplish what was intended. As a demonstration of
that faith, the people were told to fast and confess.

Likewise,
the propitiation God offers through Jesus' shed blood is "through
faith." It is through faith in what God has done in this final
sacrifice of which the temple sacrifices only prefigured. Jesus' life
was given "to demonstrate His righteousness." This phase is
pointing directly to the voluntary giving of His life as the means of
obtaining this propitiation. In this offering, the sins of the people
are removed from them and they are also removed from God's presence.
It is as if they never occurred. Complete and total restoration is
accomplished through the cross of Jesus.

Now
that the sin has been removed, the ungodliness of the sinner is
remembered no more and God's wrath at the sin has been appeased in
His punishment and death. The blood of Jesus accomplishes all of
this; it is a suitable offering for the sins of the world. Because of
this, Paul continues on by stating that "in His forbearance God
had passed over the sins that were previously committed."

What
this means is that the sins prior to the cross are dealt with in the
cross as well as those are that look back on it. Before Jesus'
offering, God would punish sin in sinful man in various ways - at the
Flood of Noah, for example. However, He didn't fully punish sin
because if He had, then all humanity would have been destroyed.
Instead, God "passed over the sins" and enacted a temporary
system of offerings through the nation of Israel to temporarily atone
for their transgressions.

This
system, the rituals in it, the items used in the rituals, every
detail of them actually prefigures Jesus. The entire picture of the
Old Testament comes into focus when looked at through the lens of who
Jesus is and what He accomplished. It cannot properly be understood
apart from Him.

Life
application: As you read the Old Testament, it may seem unnecessary
and outdated. But every word and every detail is noted and has been
selected specifically to show us the majesty of what God has done in
and through the Person of Jesus. The New Testament does not stand
alone and it must be evaluated based on what previously occurred.
Take time to read and absorb the Old Testament so that you can
properly grasp the significance of the New.

Lord
God, what happened at the cross of Calvary was done in a public
display of Your anger at our sin and how You deal with it. When I see
sin's consequences so revealed, it makes me understand the magnitude
of what You did through Jesus. Without Him, there would be no hope,
but through Him I know there is complete restoration and that all my
sins are washed away. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

...to
demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans
3:26

As a
demonstration of what has occurred in and through Jesus Christ, Paul
says "At the present time." This is the Greek en to nun
kairo and it establishes a link to what was said in the previous
verse - "God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed." The type of time Paul is speaking of is an on-going
movement of time, such the running of a watch as it clicks forward.

As
time progressed, God often passed over the sins of the people without
bringing judgment on them. This doesn't mean that God "overlooked"
them, but that judgment was merely withheld. All sin will be judged,
but out of His mercy, and looking forward to the cross, He stayed His
hand of judgment. During this time, as noted in the previous verse,
God either didn't fully punish sin in men or He withheld punishment
through an impermanent system of offerings. This was enacted through
the nation of Israel as a temporary system of atonement.

Being
temporary in nature they only looked forward to something far better.
This is the propitiation mentioned in verse 25; it is the shed blood
of Jesus. Christ's offering "at the present time"
demonstrates God's righteousness - looking back on those of the past
and forward from the time of Calvary.

This
demonstration of His righteousness is that "He might be Just..."
What Paul is saying here isn't speaking of His benevolence, but
rather that the integrity of His nature is in no way violated. He
remains Just though the sacrifice of Jesus; nothing is morally
compromised. This is the very heart of the gospel. God's perfect
character is maintained and yet fallen man is reconciled to Him in
the process. It is the highest point of the turning of the universe
and to which nothing in the continuum of time could ever compare.

The
integrity of the law is maintained through Jesus because He fulfilled
the law. Further, because the law already gave the precedent in the
doctrine of substitution - an innocent animal in place of man's sin -
the doctrine may satisfactorily continue on and be complete in the
more perfect sacrifice of Jesus. All of the moral character of God is
seen on display in this great act. Nothing is compromised, nothing is
overlooked, and what occurred displays the absolute perfection of
God's plan and the infinite wisdom He possesses.

And
not only is He Just in this action, but He is also the "Justifier"
in what occurs as well. The One who retains His moral integrity
through the giving of Jesus, is also the One who has accomplished all
things through Him. Apart from Him, there can be no justification and
thus Jesus' words in John 14:6 can be more clearly understood -

“I
am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me."

No
other avenue is available to be restored to the Father because no
other avenue can maintain His integrity. Thus what Jesus said about
the narrow gate and the wide gate in Matthew 7:13 is easily seen to
be true. Jesus is that gate and apart from Him there is only a wide
highway to the narrow confines of hell. But through Him is the avenue
to the splendid and wide expanse of heaven's glory. All of the
majestic wonder of this paradise is available in only one way - to
"the one who has faith in Jesus."

The
gospel is so simple that people miss it time and time again. They
trip over the stumbling block. The words of Paul today show the
demarcation line. On one side are those who attempt to be justified
on their own merits, and on the other are those who depend on faith
alone in the works of Christ Jesus for their salvation. There is
nothing we can add to it and there is nothing that can be subtracted
from it. At one moment in the history of man, God did what was
otherwise impossible and He reconciled us to Himself.

Life
Application: God asks for faith in what He has done. Nothing else can
satisfy our sin-debt because nothing else can meet His perfect moral
standard. Take time today to reflect on the cross of Jesus.
Understand that it alone is God's provision for your soul. Let him
who boasts, boast in the Lord and in the glory of His cross.

Oh
God, I look at the splendor of Your creation and I marvel at its
beauty. And yet the creation can never meet the splendor of the
Creator. How infinitely beautiful You are. I long to gaze upon Your
glory for all eternity, and I know that I can because of the work of
Jesus. Thank You O God... thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Where
is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?
Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27

Continuing
on with his humbling line of thought, Paul shows us the greatness of
God - both innate greatness and that which He bestows upon us. He
asks, "Where is boasting then?" The term he uses (he
kauchesis) indicates glorying in something or reveling in
something. It is equated with "See what I have done!" Paul
wants us to think it through. What will we glory in when we come
before the Lord? This Greek term can be used in a negative way -
achievements to glory in self, or in a positive way - gratitude for
His work and thus glorying in the Lord.

So,
where is our boasting? Paul says, "It is excluded." There
can be no merit when something is accomplished by faith in something
else or someone else's work. In fact, to make a personal boast in
oneself when they haven't done anything would be the epitome of
stupidity and arrogance. All boasting is excluded and to make sure we
comprehend the reason we are given two more questions to ponder - "By
what law? Of works?"

The
idea of "law" here is one of economy. The Jew was under the
economy of the Mosaic law. The gentile was under the economy of
natural law. Is the Jew able to boast before God based on fulfilling
the deeds of the Law of Moses? No. Paul has shown that the law only
brought further condemnation. How can someone boast in salvation from
something that condemned them? And the same is true with the natural
law of the gentile. Can a philanthropist stand before God and say,
"See what I did. You owe me big time."? No. All are bound
under sin - both inherited and those committed in the body against
the law.

Boasting
isn't excluded by works. It is excluded by the law of faith. This
law, or economy, says that in order to please God we must have faith
in what God has done. If God has accomplished all the works, then how
can we boast of having done anything at all? It is ludicrous to think
that we somehow merit any favor in our salvation.

Let
our boasting not be in self but in the Lord. As Paul quotes in 1
Corinthians 1:30, 31 -

"But
of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and
righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that,
as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Life
application: When we came before the Lord, it was as poor beggars who
had nothing to offer. And yet He crowns us with eternal splendor and
glory - a gift fitting the highest noble or the greatest king. This
is grace; this is God's unmerited favor to those who, by faith, reach
out to Him. Make it your goal today to truly boast in the Lord and
put aside any thought of having merited His favor.

Heavenly
Father, it is hard to fathom the depths of Your grace. The favor You
lavish upon us is undeserved. From our very breath and the food we
eat to the eternal life You have promised us through Jesus - and
everything in between - all of it is from Your open hand and truly
none of it is deserved. How can we boast in anything when it all came
from You? Help us to remember this and to glory in You alone. Amen.

Therefore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of
the law. Romans 3:28

"Therefore."
Based on what precedes this statement, Paul will now make an absolute
and exclusive claim. It is a tenet which defines true Christianity
and separates it from all other religions. It is also a point of
separation between the true faith and that which is heretical. Paul
couldn't be clearer in what he is saying. Our justification comes
from faith in the merits of Christ Jesus alone. No deeds of the law
(note that "law" has no definite article in the Greek, thus
it says "deeds of law") have any part in our justification.
We are justified and declared righteous by faith in Christ and by
faith in Christ alone.

Martin
Luther called this tenet of justification by faith the point upon
which the church either stood or fell - and he was right. Any
denomination or person who proclaims anything other than this tenet
is not a Christian entity because it is a foundational principle of
the work of Christ. Only He was born sinless and lived the law
perfectly. In contrast, we have both inherited sin and have added
further sins to our account before God. Therefore, to claim that we
somehow participate in our justification would call into question the
righteousness of God and malign His holiness.

To
deny justification by faith alone would be comparable to denying that
Jesus was born of a virgin or that the Bible wasn't divinely
inspired. Either tenet being false would negate the truth of the
Christian faith. The same is true with this one. It is this concept
above all others which caused the final break from the Roman Catholic
Church during the Protestant reformation.

Life
application: What does your denomination teach about justification by
faith alone? What does your preacher believe concerning this tenet?
Go find out and if they differ from Paul's words in today's verse,
then you need to find another place to worship. This is serious
stuff.

Glorious
Almighty God, how I thank You for sending Jesus to redeem me from the
power of sin, to justify me apart from deeds of the law, and to
reconcile me to You. Where I have failed and fallen short, You have
forgiven me. I stand amazed at the grace and the mercy You have
lavished up me, even me. Thank You O God. Amen.

Or
is He the God of the Jews only? Is He
not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,
Romans 3:29

The
case against favoritism, prejudice, and presumption has been fully
substantiated. The Bible makes it perfectly clear that there is one
God. The great affirmation of this fact is quoted by observant Jews
around the world each and every day -

"Here
O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deuteronomy 6:4

Jesus
restated the truth of Deuteronomy 6:4 when He cited it in Mark 12:29.
The concept of there being but one God is reaffirmed repeatedly
throughout the rest of the New Testament as well. If there is only
one God, then He must be the God of all. This fact is being presented
in order to establish what is already painfully obvious, but which
Paul will clarify anyway in the following verse.

The
Jewish nation traces its ancestry back to Abraham through Isaac, but
Abraham had another son also, Ishmael. Because both of them came from
Abraham and Abraham was justified by faith prior to the rite of
circumcision, and then Abraham and both sons were circumcised, then
it must be that God is the Justifier of all people apart from the
law.

The
circumcision mandated in the law cannot be a source of boasting or
one which makes a claim on God because it was actually instituted
prior to the law and after Abraham's declaration of righteousness.
And the declaration was made based on faith; simple belief in God's
promises.

Life
application: It can be deduced apart from the Bible that there is
only one God. When we peer into the pages of the Bible, we need to
continually remind ourselves that He is the God of all people. When
it seems as though He treats different people differently, it is
because we are misunderstanding what He is doing and why. In the end,
all must come to Him in exactly the same way - by faith alone. Don't
forget this fact and be reassured that God is completely fair in how
He deals with all people.

O
Lord, when I stand back and look at the Bible as a whole, I see that
Your hand is equally upon all people. You are perfectly fair in how
You deal with us. When You show mercy on us, it is not because we
deserve it, but because of Your infinite goodness. I know that the
life I have been given through Jesus is completely unmerited and so I
receive it by faith and with eternal gratitude. Amen.

...since
there is one God who will justify the
circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.Romans 3:30

Both
Testaments wholly and completely establish the truth that "there
is one God." This was noted in the previous verse and accepting
the notion of the Trinity in no way implies polytheism. The Trinity
is noted as "three persons in one essence," although the
term "persons" is an unfortunate but necessary appellative.
Time is three states in one essence - past, present, and future. All
three exist equally and at the same time and yet they differ from
each other. They are different reference points within the stream of
time. This in no way implies "polychronsim" or multitudes
of time. It is one essential thing. Proclaiming a Trinity within the
godhead is to affirm one God.

This
God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - "will justify the
circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith." God's
means of justification doesn't change. The law cannot save and so
faith in God and His provision, even under the law, is necessary in
order to be saved. A person under the law, who lives the law
scrupulously and yet doesn't have faith in what the law teaches is as
far from God as the most vile sinner. And the vile sinner who
understands his state under the law and yet has faith in the mercy of
God is closer to God than the most obedient soul who lacks faith.
Jesus showed us this in the following parable -

“Two
men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I
thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I
give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing
afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but
beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather
than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and
he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

This
train of thought is repeated throughout the Old Testament and
throughout Jesus' teachings as He cited the law, reminding those
around Him of this truth. The fact is that if a person could be
justified through the observance of the law, then God would be the
God only of those under the law. Everyone outside of the law would,
by default, be excluded. But this isn't the case at all. In all times
and in all ways, it is by faith that one stands justified before God.
However, it must be proper faith. Misdirected faith is, after all,
wasted faith.

So
where does this leave "deeds." The question is valid
because as the New Testament progresses, we will be faced with the
concept of "bearing fruit" such as in Romans 7 and "faith
by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" as noted in James
2. The answer cannot be that deeds further justify us in our standing
before God. If this were so, then a person who accepted Jesus and
then got run over by a train wouldn't be "as saved" as
someone who got saved and then lived a long life helping others and
doing good stuff.

The
deeds after salvation - those done in faith for the sake of the
gospel - must then accrue to our account, not for salvation but for
rewards. This is an important point and it is the dividing line
between heresy and truth concerning justification before God. It is
by faith alone with nothing added that we stand justified before God.
And the properly directed faith is in Jesus and His works. This will
be explained in the following verse.

Life
application: What is the motive for your deeds? If it is to attain
salvation and a right standing with God, then you are far from Him.
You have missed the grace of God as displayed in the work of Jesus
for your salvation. Rather, trust in what Jesus has done - that it is
all-sufficient to save you. And then, O saved soul, go forth doing
good deeds out of a grateful heart in the salvation God has lavished
upon you through His Son.

Heavenly
Father, how could I add to the perfection of Your salvation through
Jesus? I look to the cross and see the fulfillment of the law on my
behalf. The code which condemned me has been nailed to that tree and
I stand justified, free, and forgiven. May my life go forward in
gratitude and in a display of appreciation for the immeasurable gift
of my Lord. Amen.

Do
we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the
contrary, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

Based
on his argument that it is faith apart from deeds of the law by which
we are justified, Paul now asks, "Do we then make void the law
through faith?" The question is obvious and the answer,
unfortunately will be misunderstood unless looked at through the work
of Jesus on our behalf. Let us first consider Jesus' words from
Matthew 5:17 -

"Do
not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not
come to destroy but to fulfill."

Using
Paul's response, and/or the first half of Matthew 5:17, some teach
that we are bound by the precepts of the law. This is taken to
varying degrees by different sects and denominations, but in the end,
it is entirely contrary to the tenor of the rest of the New
Testament. Time and time again, we are instructed by Paul and others
that the law is over and done with in Christ Jesus. Here are a few of
the many examples of this -

"For
the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Moreover
the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace abounded much more,.." Rom 5:20

"For
sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but
under grace." Rom 6:14

"I
do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through
the law, then Christ died in vain." Gal 2:21

"You
have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by
law; you have fallen from grace." Gal 5:4

"For
on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment
because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made
nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in
of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Heb 7:18,
19

That
the law is obsolete and set aside in Christ is explicitly stated.
This means the entire body of the law; no distinction is ever made
between a "moral law" and a "ceremonial law."
However, many attempt to find such a distinction. The "moral
law" would include the Ten Commandments and the "ceremonial
law" would include such things as eating pork, sacrificing at
the altar in Jerusalem, etc.

By
looking for such a distinction, the body of law found in the Old
Testament becomes a "pick and choose" code for Christians.
Some denominations still teach tithing, or they may pick "no
pork" for example. And even those who say only the Ten
Commandments still apply will normally worship on a Sunday instead of
observing a Saturday Sabbath. Thus they violate their own premise in
retaining the Ten Commandments. It is all or none and the answer is
"none." The former commandment is annulled in its entirety.

However,
this sits uncomfortably with the masses. Does this mean that murder
is ok? Of course not. Nine of the ten commandments are explicitly
restated in the New Testament and are therefore binding; they are a
part of the New Covenant. However, the Sabbath is noted as having
been fulfilled. We now enter into God's rest (Hebrews 4:3) and
therefore we are free from a specific Sabbath observance.

Understanding
this, we must now return to Paul's question, "Do we then make
void the law through faith?" Paul says, "Certainly not!"
So is there a disconnect in what Paul is saying here and the rest of
the New Testament? Certainly not! Instead, it is our misunderstanding
of his next comment - "On the contrary, we establish the law."
The word translated here as "establish" is histanomen.
It has been variously translated as strengthen, uphold, fulfill,
establish, support, etc.

The
law of faith which Paul has been speaking of is a means of validating
or strengthening the law. We have failed at fulfilling it, but Jesus
fulfilled it on our behalf. Return again to Jesus' words in Matthew
5:17 - "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." And fulfill
it He did!

Now,
by faith in His work we are free from the very law which He fulfilled
on our behalf. His merits are credited to us when we place our faith
in what He did. Thus the law is established in us; it is upheld in
us; and thus it is obsolete to us. When something is fulfilled, it is
no longer necessary. As He fulfilled it in our stead, we are free
from its constraints. This is the amazing work of Jesus on our
behalf.

Life
application: Do not reinsert the law where it does not belong. Jesus
established the New Covenant at the Last Supper. The book of Hebrews
tells us that the former commandment is annulled. We cannot mix that
which is annulled into what is newly established without showing a
lack of trust in Jesus' work. Give God the glory for what He has done
through Jesus and then go forward in the power and strength of that
which Jesus established for us.

Beautiful
Lord God, when I think on the marvel of what You have done by having
wiped out the handwriting of the law which stood against us, having
nailed it to the cross to set me free from its constraints, it is
beyond my ability to grasp. Where I failed, Jesus prevailed. He has
triumphed over darkness and shown forth Your marvelous light.
Hallelujah and Amen.

What
then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the
flesh? Romans 4:1

Paul
begins chapter 4 in a manner similar to chapter 3 (the original
letter contained no chapter or verse divisions, but these are logical
points of demarcation which were later added) by introducing a
pertinent question. He has built an argument and defended it in a
precise and exacting manner, introducing legal terms and processes in
order to validate his points. Each step has been introduced to
confirm the concept of justification by faith.

During
the progression, he has shown the nature of sin and the nature of
fallen man, both under natural law and the Mosaic law. All are bound
under sin and none have an innate righteousness. Because of this,
none can attain to it by their own works; something external is
needed.

And
so now he introduces Abraham as a living example of his argument. As
Abraham is the father of the Hebrew nation and because he lived
hundreds of years before the introduction of the law, he will
demonstrate that what occurred between God and Abraham was apart from
the law or any deeds of the law. This will confirm his statements at
the end of chapter 3 which concerned boasting before God.

He
now asks "What shall we say that Abraham our father has
found...?" Paul is clearly indicating that Abraham is the father
of the faith, a point not missed by those under the law when speaking
to Jesus such as during this exchange in John 8 -

"I
know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me,
because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My
Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They
answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” (vs. 38, 39)

Even
the Lord acknowledged this to the people of Israel when He spoke to
them through Isaiah -

“Listen
to Me, you who follow after righteousness,
You who seek the
Lord:
Look to the
rock from which you were hewn,
And to the hole of the pit
from which you were dug.
Look to Abraham your father,
And
to Sarah who bore you;
For I called him alone,
And
blessed him and increased him.” Isaiah 51:1, 2

Because
this is testified to the nation, even from their own Scriptures which
established them as a people, then what is deduced concerning Abraham
will be all the more sure and binding if it is a demonstrable truth.
Paul's next words will begin to establish what Abraham "has
found according to the flesh."

The
introduction of this phrase "according to the flesh" has
been debated and two options are most disputed -

1)That
Abraham is the physical father of the people; he is their ancestor
and they are his descendants.

2)
That "according to the flesh" is tied to the words "has
found." In other words, "What thing in the person of
Abraham is found to be true concerning our previous argument?"

The
second is the obvious and correct option. Paul has been speaking
about how righteousness is found and how one stands justified before
God. He will continue with this thought by giving the practical
example of Abraham. The fact that he is the father of the faithful is
true, but how he became that way is what is of importance to Paul and
his argument. The first is dependent on the second, but the
reciprocal is not the case.

Life
application: Use caution when reading commentaries, particularly in
biblical matters. Don't bind yourself to one interpretation until you
have researched other possibilities. The Bible is a unified whole and
it will always internally validate itself. Logical arguments must
rest on ultimate truths and the conclusions must be in line with the
overall objectives presented in Scripture.

Oh
heavenly Father, Your word is a delight to my mind and the highest
point of joy in my daily thoughts. From Your word I see light and
truth and in Your word I see the glorious plan of the ages - all of
it pointing to what You alone have accomplished for us, your wayward
creatures. And so to You alone be the glory. May I only boast in what
You have done for us. Amen.

For
if Abraham was justified by works, he has something
to boast about, but not before God. Romans 4:2

Paul's
words today would be set against the thought of the Jew who says,
"Abraham was justified through circumcision." And again,
"Abraham was justified by the offering of his son on Mount
Moriah." To argue against this, he will introduce Scripture
which will stand against this thought.

It's
important to note here though that James 2:21 seems to indicate
contrary to this -

"Was
not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his
son on the altar?"

There
are important concepts which must be understood clearly before we can
grab the words of James 2 and stand before God and boast in our
deeds. The first is that the term ek or "out of" is
used by both Paul and James concerning works, not the term dia
or "through." Although the difference may seem small, Paul
consistently shows that justification does not come "through"
works. The second thing to note about James 2 is that the example of
Abraham and the others given (such as Rahab the harlot) are fully
explained in Hebrews 11. There, they are clearly described as deeds
of faith. "By faith Abraham..."

In
other words, the faith in God's word led to the deed, not the other
way around. The deed had no part in the justification of
righteousness. So where did the justification come from? Paul will
explain it quite clearly in the following verse. To set it up though,
he gives today's verse. "If Abraham was justified by works..."
The words "if Abraham was" implies that he wasn't, but the
introduction is proper to show why. Therefore, "If Abraham was
justified by works, he has something to boast about."

Of
course, if we do something to merit favor, then we can boast in what
we've done. If we are in a battle and everyone is certain to die
unless an immediate source of relief is found, then the actions of
the person providing the relief could lead to boasting. "Johnny
charged the hill alone, took out the enemy guns, destroyed the mine
field with a blasting charge, and had lunch waiting for us when we
arrived at the bunker..." Well, Johnny can boast. He didn't have
faith that he would make it though. In fact, he probably thought he
would die trying. He simply saw no other action and took it. It was a
step in the dark.

Faith
is not a step in the dark. Rather it is a step into God's
revealed light; it is trust that what He has said is true and will
come to pass. This is why Paul finishes today's verse with, "but
not before God." It is the introduction into verse 3 which will
explain why Abraham's faith was not a step into the dark, nor was it
a point on which he could boast. He bore no part of his
justification, but rather it was an act of God based on his faith
alone.

This
leads to the final point today. Faith... faith is not a deed.
Exercising one's faith is not somehow usurping God's gift as many
Calvinists would claim. Their idea is that God regenerates us to
believe, we then believe, and then are saved and justified. This is
nonsense of the highest order and it crosses the lines of reason. It
also violates the tenor of Scripture on a multitude of levels.

When
man fell, he gained the "knowledge of good and evil" and,
as God said, "the man has become like one of Us, to know good
and evil." Something was lost, but something was gained. Using
reason is a part of what we are. There may be nothing inherently good
in us, but we can "see the good" in God and accept it. This
reason, leading to faith, is not a work and it in no way diminishes
the glory God deserves. On the contrary, it exalts Him because we use
our free will, granted by Him, to choose Him. God regenerating
somebody in order for them to be saved does the opposite. It would
demonstrate God's need to be glorified. But God lacks nothing,
including the need to be glorified.

By
mixing categories of what occurs in our salvation, we come up with
confusion and a loss of what has happened in creation since the
beginning; it skews the plan of redemption which is laid out in
Scripture. Man chose to disobey and this is in no way laid at the
feet of the Creator. Man chooses to accept His offer and it is
completely and absolutely a gift for which God alone receives the
glory. It is belief in what God says, not mere belief in God as we
will see in verse 3.

Life
application: Jesus and the apostles, throughout the New Testament,
state time and time again words such as "believe," "call
on," "have faith," "trust," etc. These are
things that we do throughout our lives. The ability to do these
things establishes us as rational, free-willed beings. This is a gift
of God and therefore when we exercise them "for" God, it is
still ultimately "of" God, not ourselves. Today, take time
to revel in what God has given you... choice. Now go and give Him the
glory for the choice of accepting what He has done for You - the
giving of Jesus!

O
God, at the very beginning we chose to reject Your word and to do
things our own way. We took from the tree and were separated from
You. But without all the bad, we could never appreciate the good.
Thank You that the way has been restored through another tree... the
cross of Calvary. I stand amazed at the glory You have revealed
there. Amen.

For
what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3

Paul
returns to Scripture - to the Old Testament - in order to prove his
just-made statement. If Abraham was justified by works, then he would
have something to boast about, but not before God. The verse Paul
selects is Genesis 15:6 and the timing of the occurrence in Abraham's
life is as important as the words used. When taken in context and
analyzed properly, today's verse disproves the Calvinist doctrine of
regeneration and it also shows that "faith" is not a work
it all.

The
previous verse said, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he
has something to boast about, but not before God." It is
clear then that what is stated in today's verse, "Abraham
believed God..." is not a work. Paul began with "for"
to demonstrate this. He is placing "works" and "belief
(or faith)" in opposition to each other; therefore "faith"
cannot be considered as "work."

Quoting
the noted Bible scholar Albert Barnes, "Faith is uniformly an
act of the mind. It is not a created essence which is placed within
the mind. It is not a substance created independently of the soul,
and placed within it by almighty power. It is not a principle, for
the expression a principle of faith, is as unmeaningful as a
principle of joy, or a principle of sorrow, or a principle of
remorse. God promises; the man believes; and this is the whole of
it."

As
Barnes notes, "It is not a created essence which is placed
within the mind." In substantiation of this, Barnes reviewed
every passage on which the corresponding Hebrew word was used in the
Old Testament, and then again every corresponding time the Greek was
used in the New Testament. His conclusion was that "there is not
one in which the word is used in the sense of reckoning or imputing
to a man what does not strictly belong to him; or of charging on him
what ought not to be charged on him as a matter of personal right."

This
completely and entirely demonstrates that the doctrine of
regeneration as submitted by Calvinism is wrong. Faith, which comes
from within the man, results in justification. A man is not
"regenerated" first in order to believe, as if God were
injecting man with something externally in order for the act to
occur. Further, to demonstrate that "faith" is not a "work"
we can contemplate the following argument -

1)
Deeds of the law, or works, do not lead to justification (as noted in
Romans 3:28).

2a)
"Faith" is not something required within the context of the
law. The law is of works and demands perfect obedience (Romans 3:19,
20 & Galatians 3:11).

2b)
But by faith a person is justified and declared righteous (Romans
3:28, Galatians 3:24)

3)
Therefore, because the law demands works, and faith is not a
requirement under the law, then faith cannot be a work; it is
something entirely different.

It
is completely evident, fully supportable, and biblically correct to
note from this one verse that 1) belief is an act of the free will of
man; 2) it is not placed in man through a nebulous process of being
"regenerated to believe" by which he then believes; and
that 3) this faith is in no way considered a work.

Therefore,
the truth of Scripture indicates, from the first pages of Genesis,
that man has been granted free will and that He must exercise that
gift in faith. Further that this faith must be properly directed and
in line with the revealed light which God has provided.

Now
to address the second issue of today's verse - the timing of God's
declaration. Genesis 15:6, which today's verse from Romans cites,
occurred several chapters and many years before the sign of
circumcision. Circumcision was mandated in Genesis 17 when Abraham
was 99 years old and when Ishmael was 13. However, Genesis 15 was
prior to the conception and birth of Ishmael. Therefore, the
declaration of righteousness was at least 14 years earlier, possibly
more. Further, Abraham's offering of Isaac in Genesis 22 and which is
noted in James 2 came many long years after that.

Because
Abraham's faith was credited to righteousness prior to either of
these acts, then neither of them can have any bearing at all upon his
declaration of justification.

Life
application: When reading the Bible, make sure you take time to stop
and think through why ideas and concepts are introduced. God is
revealing His light to us and to quickly pass over what is being said
will cause you to miss the point of the passage. And be careful to
not rely too heavily on commentaries. Reading them is fine, but be
sure to compare them with what God has laid out, when they conflict
with the word, they need to be disregarded.

Most
gracious and heavenly Father. You have given me the ability to
choose, but I know that the faith I exercise must be properly
directed. Please be with me and open my eyes to the truth of Your
word and the principles it contains so that my decisions will be
right and in line with Your will for me. To Your honor and glory I
pray this. Amen.

Now
to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Romans 4:4

Paul
now brings up the subject of wages. When a person goes to work in a
job as an employee, it is under the premise that he will receive
payment for his efforts and that the pay will be comparable to his
level of output, skill, knowledge, etc. Some people may work for
their food and a place to sleep, some may work for currency, some may
work for a precious metal like gold, etc. The first time "wages"
are mentioned in Scripture it was work in exchange for a bride -

"Then
Laban said to Jacob, 'Because you are my relative, should you
therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your
wages be?'" ... "Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said,
'I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.'"
Genesis 29:15 & 18

An
agreement was made and the wage was paid based on the work performed
(with a little cunning on the part of Laban...)

The
concept of earning something for accomplishing deeds is found
throughout Scripture and it is found throughout human history. The
word for "work" in today's passage indicates the doing of
something by which something else will result. The word for "wages"
is translated exactly as noted, wages. It is dues paid for working.
The word for "counted" is also well chosen. It is to
reckon, impute, or account. And the word for "grace," which
is found throughout the New Testament speaks of unmerited favor; it
is "getting what one doesn't deserve." Finally, "debt"
is something that is due - either for the sake of what is just or
what is legally necessary; something is owed.

Taking
all of these words and considering them from what Paul has been
teaching us, there is a contrast between working to receive wages and
demonstrating faith in order to obtain grace. A person who attempts
to be justified by deeds of the law feels that God somehow owes him
and that he has merited good standing in His presence; his salvation
is earned. On the other hand, a person who understands that God's
grace cannot be earned places his trust completely and entirely in
the hands of God, knowing that what he deserves is condemnation, but
what he seeks is God's pardon.

This
is the contrast between the two - 1) Wages - The law looks to a trial
based on merit. The trial will be perfectly fair and it will lead to
condemnation. 2) Grace - Faith in Jesus seeks God's favor through the
work of another and the receiving of a pardon based on His
accomplishments.

Life
application: The choice is given to all - will we attempt to merit
God's favor by our own works, or will we place our trust in the work
of Jesus? The biblical record stands - Jesus fulfilled the law on our
behalf if we are willing to accept it. Either way we will be judged
by the same standard - it will be fair and it will either condemn us
or justify us. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus.

Oh
God, You have done for me that which I could never do. You have
fulfilled the law in my place through a Substitute. Now, by faith in
His work I stand justified in Your presence. The work of the Messiah
is hinted at throughout Your word... and then He came! He was
offered once to bear the sins of many and to those who eagerly wait
for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hallelujah and Amen.

But
to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,... Romans 4:5

This
is the amazing truth of the gospel revealed in its glory. The
ungodly, the sinner, is justified by faith, not by works. This takes
us back to Romans 3:31. Jesus fulfilled the law for us, and therefore
when we place our trust in Him and what He did, we establish the law
by faith. The righteous requirements of the law are met in Him and
His righteousness is imputed to us through faith in that.

This
brings us to an important concept though. If we attempt to be
justified through works of the law and fail at them, then of course
we can never be justified. But just as important is an attempt to be
justified by deeds not recorded in the law - trusting in our own law.

If
we attempt to establish our own righteous standards by adding to
God's word, then we are guilty of exactly that - adding to the word
of God. This is what Jesus condemned when addressing the scribes and
Pharisees. He repeatedly makes a distinction between the Word of God
and the traditions of men -

"Well
did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This
people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far
from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men.’

For
laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of
men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things
you do.”

He
said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of
God, that you may keep your tradition." Mark 7:6-9

As
God's word is truth, and because God is love, then the proper
proclamation of God's word, no matter how painful or cutting, is a
loving action. It establishes the law of God. Truth and love are not
at war with each other, they compliment each other. This is why
properly handling the message of Christ is so important. When we
attempt to be justified by our own deeds, we actually set aside the
grace of God. When we teach others to do so, we bring condemnation,
not salvation, to those who follow suit; it is the most unloving
action imaginable.

God
justifies the ungodly by faith. It is counted to them for
righteousness. Let us believe this truth and not attempt establish
our own righteousness before Him.

Life
application: It is either the Bible or the teachings of man which
brings salvation; the two are incompatible with each other. In our
walk we must decide who we will follow and why. Let us never fail to
stand on God's word alone lest we be found to have fallen short of
His grace.

Lord
God, Your wisdom is displayed in Your word. Every story and every
detail is given to show us who You are, what You expect, and our
complete dependence on You. Help us to abide by its precepts, live by
its statutes, and fear its judgments. Your word is precious and it is
a lamp to my feet and a light to my path as I walk in this
sin-stained world. Amen.

...just
as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God
imputes righteousness apart from works: Romans 4:6

Today
precedes two verses which form a quote from the 32nd Psalm. In this
quote Paul will show how "David also describes the blessedness
of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works."
In other words, in a masterful insight into the heart of the doctrine
of justification by faith, Paul will go to David, a man under the
law, to show how righteousness is attained. It is by imputation from
God "apart from works."

Not
only was David a man under the law, but he was also the King of
Israel and the one through whom the promise of the Messiah would come
(2 Samuel 7:12-16). If anyone had a reason to boast before the Lord,
it would certainly be David. As the author of a large portion of the
Psalms and the one who received the instructions for the building of
the temple directly from Lord (1 Chronicles 28:19), David had an
intimate relationship with God. He had a grasp of the intent and the
purpose of the law and it is apparent through his words that he knew
that the righteousness of God came not from the law itself, but from
the One who gave the law in the first place.

How
could David know this? Because the law not only promised life to the
one who lived by it (Leviticus 18:5), but it also promised punishment
and death for those who failed to do so. And David, this great and
noted king, failed. When he was faced with his own sin, which under
the law was worthy of death, God's prophet spoke these words to him,
"The Lord also has
put away your sin; you shall not die."

The
Lord's mercy was bestowed upon David apart from the law. David thus
deduced that if this occurred, then God's other divine attributes
were also to be realized in our relationship with Him only apart from
the law. The law then must have had another purpose than to bring man
into a right relationship with God. Although David didn't have a full
comprehension of the work of the Messiah, he did understand the
blessedness of man who received God's righteousness apart from the
law.

In
the book of Galatians, Paul will show that the law was a tutor to
lead us to Christ "that we might be justified by faith."
Somehow, in his ponderings of the work of God, David understood this,
even if in a limited way. The quotes Paul uses from David's hand will
clearly show this.

Life
application: God authored the law which is finite in its scope and so
it cannot be the full extent of our relationship with Him. However,
it is eternal in its purpose; it must be fulfilled, and yet we cannot
fulfill it. Therefore, the righteousness of God must come to us apart
from our deeds under the law. It must come from Jesus who embodies
the perfection of it. In Him alone can our righteousness be found. Be
sure to give God the glory for doing through Jesus what we could
never do.

Gracious
and glorious Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You - my heart
has been deceitful, my lips have been impure, and my actions have not
been in accord with Your word. I stand before You knowing that what I
deserve is to be cast from Your presence, and yet because of the work
of the Messiah I am reconciled to You and brought near to Your
throne. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

This
is the first half of Paul's quote from the 32nd Psalm. Paul, citing
David, shows the state of blessedness or happiness of those who are
forgiven of their misdeeds. Paul changes the quote from singular to
plural. David's original words said, "Blessed is he whose..."
This thought then covers all who are included - male and female, Jew
and gentile.

In
the forgiveness of lawlessness and the covering of sin, a person
stands justified and free from guilt even though the offense(s)
actually occurred. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and
was responsible for the death of Uriah. Moving forward in time means
that these actions cannot be undone. What has occurred is over. A
finite crime thus infinitely separates man from an infinite Creator;
we can never undo our deeds.

But
God, the Creator of time, has the ability to do what we cannot. Thus
it is the truly blessed person who obtains access to this infinite
fountain of grace and mercy. When forgiveness occurs, the sins are
"covered." They can never been seen again. The Bible
repeatedly confirms this -

As
far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed
our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

You
will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

For
You have cast all my sins behind Your back. Isaiah 38:17

These
and other metaphors are intended to show the complete and eternal
nature of forgiveness and justification. When a transgression is
covered, it is forever gone. When forgiveness is granted, it becomes
a garment of righteousness. And when a person is justified by faith,
it stands forever as a seal and a promise from God that a right
relationship again exists.

Life
application: The blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all
unrighteousness and ungodliness. What has been cleansed by Him is
forever clean and holy. As proof of this, the believer in Jesus
Christ has been given a deposit, the Holy Spirit of promise. When you
err and fall short of God's glory, remember this. Despite your
faults, you are eternally safe and secure in the hands of God.

Lord
God Almighty, in You I have found my rest and my peace. Surely a day
in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. And yet, because
of Your Son I have the surety of eternal days in Your presence - free
from the guilt I have stored up through a lifetime of misdeeds. How
can I but praise You and glorify You for what You have done. Thank
You, O God. Amen.

Blessedis theman to whom the Lord
shall not impute sin. Romans 4:8

Paul
again quotes David from the 32nd Psalm.

"Blessed
is the man to whom the Lord
does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no
deceit."

There
David noted that the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin is
blessed. However, the law demanded that his sin be tried and
punished. He had committed adultery and murder - both capital
offenses and transgressions against God. He couldn't go back in time
and undo what he had done; time is ever-moving forward. And yet, God
provided atonement for him and for those who put their faith in Him
through sacrifice and repentance.

The
question is, "Did the sacrifices - such as those on the Day of
Atonement - take away the sin?" The answer is given in both
Testaments and it is "No." The blood of bulls and goats
could never take away sin. (Psalm 51:16, 17, Hebrews 10:4, etc). So
what provided the atonement? It was faith that God would withhold His
wrath for the sins committed. The sacrifices merely pointed to the
final sacrifice of Jesus, even if the people didn't know that this
was the case. It was faith in God and His promises and a humble walk
before Him. Passages such as Micah 6:6-8 show us this -

With
what shall I come before the Lord,And
bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with
burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
Will the Lord
be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of
oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The
fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He
has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the
Lord require of you
But
to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your
God?

The
questions Micah asked demanded a negative response. All of the
sacrifices and offerings in the world were useless without a heart
for God and without faith in His providence. It is through faith that
the blessedness is received. When faith is exercised, the sins are
pardoned and felicity between God and man is restored.

Life
application: Have faith in God's promises which come through the
Person and work of Jesus. This is what pleases God, not church
attendance or charitable giving. After your faith is established,
then these things have meaning, but without it they are just vapor
which fades away.

Lord,
I know that my sins make me deserving of Your wrath and judgment, but
because of Jesus, You have granted me mercy and a pardon from the
sentence. I trust that Your word is true and that what He has done is
all-sufficient to restore me to You. I marvel at the perfection of
what You have done through His wondrous work. Thank You, O God. Amen.

Does
this blessedness then come upon the circumcised
only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say
that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. Romans 4:9

Paul
has been addressing David's comments which are found in the psalms
and which point to the blessedness of man to whom the Lord does not
impute sin. Based on David's words, Paul showed that this blessedness
translates into "righteousness apart from works."

Through
Paul's observations and by citing the Scriptures, it is verifiable
that this state of blessedness can be obtained because David both
received it and spoke of it. David was a man under the law, the law
which included circumcision as one of its signs of the covenant
between God and His people. So Paul now asks an obvious question -
"Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only?"

The
question is important because if it is only upon the circumcised,
then anyone outside of the law will never be free from the sin-guilt
they bear. All sins committed will in fact be imputed to them. There
would then be... no hope. But Paul asks, "Does this blessedness
then come 'upon the uncircumcised also?'" If it does, then there
is hope for the world at large and not just those in the nation of
Israel and who had been circumcised.

In
order to demonstrate that this blessed state does, in fact, come upon
those outside of the law Paul will now reintroduce Abraham. Why would
he do this? Abraham was the father of circumcision! What could it be
about Abraham's justification that will in turn give hope to the
non-circumcised world? Stay tuned for the exciting details.

Life
application: When things look hopeless and every exit is blocked,
remember that God is fully capable of rescuing you from your trials.
Those things that you may have overlooked are already known to Him.
So trust that His plan is greater than your time of testing. Stand in
the confidence of knowing that His hand is upon you and will guide
you to broad places.

Precious
Lord, how wonderful it is to live in Your presence and to know that
You are always with me - a shade at my right hand. When life is
difficult and the trials seem to big to bear, remind me of Your
glorious presence and help me to open my mouth and speak to You about
the cares and burdens I feel. I know that You will respond according
to Your great mercy. Amen.

How
then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?
Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. Romans 4:10

Paul
has shown as clearly as could be done, that righteousness comes apart
from the law and that it is granted by faith alone. Noting this, Paul
continues to make his address to those who would still consider the
law as a means to an end. His questions are meant to dispel this
notion once and forever. "How was it (meaning the blessedness of
being declared righteous noted in the previous verses) accounted?"
In other words, where or when did this declaration originate? In
follow-up he asks "While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?"

This
is an immensely important question. If it was after circumcision,
then the circumcision may have had a bearing on the declaration of
his righteousness. This then might mean that this same declaration
could be available only to those who are circumcised. If so, then
anyone outside of the law would be in the same state they were always
in - alienated from God and strangers to the promise. But Paul's
answer is a note of relief to those outside and it is one which comes
directly from an analysis of Scripture itself... "Not while
circumcised, but while uncircumcised."

Abraham
was declared righteous in Genesis 15:6. He simply believed God and it
was accounted to him for righteousness. It wasn't until Genesis 17
that the sign of his righteousness was introduced. This was many long
years later and it had no bearing at all on his state before God. If
it had no bearing, then why was it even given? The answer is that it
was an outward sign of the change in relationship and was intended
for him and his descendants afterwards to remember that relationship
and live in a manner worthy of it.

This
outward sign was a means of validating what occurred. It had no
bearing on what happened, but it gave him the memory of, and the
assurance in, the act. As an example to grasp this, let's consider
a war hero. He is involved in a great act which saves many lives
and which is the epitome of braveness and heroism. Everyone knows it
and calls him a hero. This is equivalent to Abraham's faith and God's
recognition of it.

After
the act, the hero's commander submits him for an award. The award
goes through the ranks and arrives at the president's desk. The
president approves it - a Congressional Medal of Honor; the highest
military award one can receive. The award is then officially
presented to the hero on the one-year anniversary of his act. Did the
presentation of the award have any bearing on the accomplishment of
the act? No. Did the presentation have any bearing on his status as a
hero? No, but it does validate it. The award was given as a sign and
a confirmation (or validation) of the significance of the deed, but
it in no way changes what occurred. This is Paul's point. The
circumcision, in which the Jew boasts, has no bearing at all on what
was previously granted.

If
the war hero's descendants carry around his award and boast in it and
yet don't live a life worthy of the act of their father, then the
award means less than nothing. In fact, it has become in them as if
they weren't even a part of this noble man's family. And now, after
more than a chapter of analysis and explanation, we can return to
Paul's words at the end of chapter 2 and more fully understand what
he meant -

"For
circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are
a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements
of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law,
judge you who, even with your written code and
circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a
Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is
one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in
the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men
but from God." Romans 2:25-29

Life
application: Don't let anyone steal the prize from you by insisting
that you adhere to some precept found under the law. Circumcision,
dietary restrictions, dress codes, etc that are found under the law
will only separate you further from God if you attempt to be
justified by those things. Stand firm on the fact that Abraham was
declared righteous by faith alone and this is how you will also be so
declared.

Lord
God, I see in Your word that Abraham was declared righteous before he
was circumcised. The circumcision was only an outward sign of the
declaration. I also see that this is how You work at all times -
declaring us righteous by faith in what You alone have done. The work
of Jesus frees us from the constraints of the law because He
fulfilled them in our stead. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

And
he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of
the faith which he had while still
uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe,
though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to
them also, Romans 4:11

The
previous verse reminded us of what Scripture proclaims - Abraham was
declared righteous before he was circumcised; long before. To ensure
that point couldn't be misunderstood, God waited many long years
before giving him the sign of circumcision. This sign is "a seal
of righteousness of the faith he had while still uncircumcised."

The
sign did nothing to further justify him in God's sight. By this
picture, which we derive directly from Scripture, we learn that it is
God who defines the parameters and establishes the basis by which a
person is declared righteous. And this is shown to be by faith; faith
alone. When this faith is properly directed toward God's promises
(meaning the work of the Messiah) we are counted as righteous.

Abraham
was made the type or pattern of the faithful, "that he might be
the father of all those who believe." There is no distinction
made in us because there was none made in him. He simply believed God
and received the blessedness of God. As this is the pattern, then it
is available to all "though they are uncircumcised, that the
righteousness might be imputed to them also."

This
wondrous relationship with God is available to all - Jew and Gentile,
male and female. It is open to any person of any culture, ethnicity,
or race. No person is above another and no person is excluded when
mere faith is exercised. This is the very heart of the gospel and is
reflected in Jesus' words of John 3:16 - "For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"Whoever"
means just that. All who believe are granted the same inheritance and
become Abraham's descendants; adopted into God's family.

Life
application: A simple act of faith is all that is needed to change
our eternal state. It doesn't matter who you are, if you have
accepted Jesus as Lord, you have been declared righteous and stand
justified before God. Don't let anyone steal your joy by telling you
that more is needed. Your faith has healed you, O child of God.

Heavenly
Father, Abraham was declared righteous by mere faith and your word
says that the same is true with me. I am freed from the bondage of
the law by the work of Jesus who fulfilled it in my stead. I stand
free and forgiven and now I am ready to bear fruit in this new life.
Set me on the course which will bring you the honor and glory You are
due. Amen.

...and
the father of circumcision to those who not only are
of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith
which our father Abraham had while still
uncircumcised. Romans 4:12

The
previous verse showed that Abraham was "the father of all those
who believe, though they are uncircumcised." Today shows that
likewise, Abraham is "the father of circumcision." The
Greek actually leaves out a definite article before "father."
He is "father of circumcision." This is an abstract term
for the concrete principle similar to saying someone is "father
of the modern jet airplane." However, Paul includes a caveat
concerning those circumcised people. It is those who are not "only
are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the
faith..."

Being
circumcised but lacking faith has already been addressed and then it
was supported by Paul's inclusion of David's quotes from the Hebrew
Scriptures. In order to further substantiate it, Paul pulls out a
word for "walk" which is only used a few times in the New
Testament, stoichousin. This word finds other uses in secular
Greek writings to indicate the concept of military order. There it
has the idea of keeping in rank or walking in step with a leader.

In
other words, those who are of the circumcision can't claim any
special participation with Abraham unless they walk in the manner of
Abraham, which has been shown to be a walk of faith. Other Jewish
writings designate Abraham "the head of those that are
circumcised" or "the head to them that are circumcised."
However, Paul calls him "father of circumcision." The
difference is immense. The first indicates a relationship is
contingent on circumcision, but the second indicates that true
circumcision is contingent on faith.

What
this means, and it is of the highest concern for those who are
circumcised, is that in order to be saved the Jews must come under
Abraham's covenant of faith which was while he was still
uncircumcised, not the other way around. The entire concept of
circumcision had been turned upside down by those who bore the sign.

Unfortunately,
this is still the case in Christianity today. Far too many sects and
denominations insert the law where it doesn't belong by imposing its
restrictions on those who have been freed from them. The sign of the
saved Christian is an internal one; it is the sealing of the Holy
Spirit. Attempting to add to that can only bring in unhappy
consequences and a life of walking in uncertainty.

In
the same way, some believe they are saved through their denomination
and that others are excluded. Or, they may believe that baptism is a
saving grace comparable to the Jew's belief in the effectiveness of
circumcision. However, both of these ideas are dispelled when one
understands that it is faith, and faith alone, which restores us to
God. We too must come under the covenant of the faith of Abraham.

Life
application: Was there a time when you called on Jesus Christ as Lord
by simple faith? If so, then remember that move and return to it.
Live in it and revel in it. If you've been adding external
requirements to it and have wondered why your walk is a meandering
one, then re-evaluate your walk. If someone is teaching you to follow
certain dietary requirements, certain days of church attendance,
etc., then you are only harming your walk of faith. Look to Jesus and
what He already did and then glory in that.

O
most precious Lord, by faith Abraham was declared righteous and so he
is considered the father of faith for all who walk in his steps. Help
me to be a person of faith, putting aside attempts to merit my
salvation by adding to what You have already done for me. What could
I add to the work of Jesus? In Him my rest is found and in Him I
shall take my rest. Amen.

For
the promise that he would be the heir of the world was
not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13

The
words "for the promise" are being introduced to show that
what was promised to Abraham, both explicitly and implicitly, are to
be offset from the notion that the law had any bearing on it at all.
When taken in context of the times and the circumstances, nobody with
right thinking could come to any other conclusion.

Abraham
was given the promise and declared righteous in Genesis 15. From that
time until the giving of the law at Mount Sinai it was a period of
430 years. This is seen in Exodus 12:40, 41. The dating in these
verses is speaking of 430 years from the promise to Abraham until the
exodus, not the time the amount of time the Israelites dwelt in Egypt
-

"Now
the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was
four hundred and thirty years.And it came to pass at
the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same
day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord
went out from the land of Egypt."

Understanding
this, we can now evaluate the word "promise." There are two
English words which are used to translate it, one is huposchesis
and the other is epangelia. The first one is used when a
condition is involved. The second is used when the promise is an
unconditional one. It is the second one, epangelia, that Paul
uses here. Therefore, the promise involves no act to

which
merit could be counted, but is an act of grace alone.

Next
is the thought of the promise, "that he would be heir of the
world." An heir is one who inherits something, such as an
estate. This is not a promise that was made specifically to Abraham.
The promises to him included giving to him and his descendants the
land of Canaan; making him a great nation; that in him all the
nations of the earth would be blessed; that his descendants would be
a multitude (as of the dust of the earth and as of the stars of the
sky); and that he would be the father of many nations.

The
promise that he would be "heir of the world" must be
inferred from these other promises and which then would point
directly to the Messiah who would issue from him. To understand this,
Paul says "or to his seed through the law." The word seed
is translated from one of three words in the New Testament. The one
used here is the word spermati. In almost every one of its 44 uses,
it is speaking specifically of descendants. Such is the case here.

Jesus,
the seed of Abraham, is the One this part of the inheritance is
speaking of. This is explicitly noted in Galatians 3:16-18 -

"Now
to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And
to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who
is Christ.And this I say, that the law, which
was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant
that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the
promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it
is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by
promise."

To
sum this up for us as believers in Christ Jesus, Paul finishes with,
"but through the righteousness of faith." The promise to
Abraham and his seed comes only through the righteousness of faith.
The law has no part in it for us. It was promised prior to the law
and Jesus, who was born under the law fulfilled the law on our
behalf. Therefore, by faith in Him, not deeds of the law, we are
justified before God.

Life
application: The Bible is a complex book, but its message is simple -
have faith in God and His promises; have faith in Jesus. Our
continued exploration of the word should always bear this in mind. If
so, then we will never get off base as we plumb the depths of its
treasures.

Heavenly
Father, the more I read and study Your word, the more I understand
how complex it truly is. But one thing consistently shines forth -
the just shall live by faith. And so I stand on that simple tenet. I
put my faith, hope, and trust in the Person and work of Jesus alone.
Amen.

For
if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is
made void and the promise made of no effect, Romans 4:14

Today's
statement is so obvious and yet so powerful that it should be posted
as a banner at the doorway to houses of worship around the world.
"For" is used here as if to say "indeed" or
"surely." It is stressing the truth of what is coming. "For
if those who are of the law are heirs..."

The
first thing to note is that there is no definite article before "law"
in the Greek. "For if those who are of law are heirs..."
Whatever law, natural or Mosaic, is hinted at. If someone who is
living under law is an heir of Abraham, then the very thing that
caused Abraham to be declared righteous, which is faith, "is
made void and the promise made of no effect.

The
promise would then be made inoperative; it could never be fulfilled.
Grace which is sought for by work isn't grace. Anything beyond faith
is a work and therefore grace could never be bestowed upon a person
who is seeking righteousness by the law. So, if a person is an heir
who is doing works of the law, then faith is made void.

The
importance of this is immense because both Jews living under the law,
and Christians who mandate any given aspect of the law (such as "no
pork" or "be circumcised") are in essence saying that
God's promise to Abraham is of no effect. They are basically hinting
that the entire premise of the Bible is faulty.

God's
word, which states that we are saved by grace through faith, is
either true or it is false. If it is true, then attempting to obtain
grace in any other way can only lead to not receiving the grace at
all.

Life
application: Stand on the biblical truth that grace is grace. It is
unmerited favor bestowed upon us by simply believing that God has it
all under control and has accomplished the work for us through Jesus.
Don't add to this, lest you be found to have fallen short of His
immeasurable gift.

Heavenly
Father, what could I add to the grace You have granted me through the
cross of Jesus? I receive what You did and I stand on the merits of
the Lord and not on my own supposed righteousness. I have faith that
His work will carry me through to be received into Your holy temple.
Thank You for this surety. Amen.

...because
the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there
is no transgression.Romans 4:15

Today
a concept is introduced which goes back to the very creation of man
and is found throughout the Bible and throughout human history - "the
law brings about wrath." Man was placed in the Garden of Eden
and he was, in fact, given a law. It was one command and it was in
the negative (you shall not), but it was a command none-the-less.

Man
was told that he was not to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good
and evil. If God had not given him this law, then there could have
been no penalty for eating the fruit. It would have been no different
to the man than eating any other fruit in the garden.

Secondly,
the law was just. If God told the man, "You shall not drink any
water" then that law would have been unjust because man needs
water to exist. However, man didn't need to eat the fruit of that
particular tree; there was other food to eat. The law was just and
therefore enforceable. A violation of it brought about wrath.

The
same is true with every other law given by God along the way. The
laws were just and holy and they were reasonable. But accepting God's
promise in Genesis 3:15 as well as those to Abraham could only come
by faith because no law had been introduced along with them. Further,
there is no law that could come along and fulfill the promises. They
preceded any type of law and were thus grace. The only thing the
introduction of a law could do would be to diagnose problems along
the way, but they couldn't provide a cure for the state of man. In
other words, the law can only condemn, but it cannot save.

Understanding
these things leads to the fact that the law can only point out sin
and show the need for something else. Fallen man needs to be
completely detached from the principles of the law in order to be
brought to a place where there will be no transgression and thus no
wrath. This is the marvel of Jesus' work.

By
coming in the form of a man, without the stain of original sin, Jesus
fulfilled the law that only condemns us. He then offers His
perfection under the law to any who will receive it. When it is so
received, it brings us to that place where there is no transgression.
We have overcome the law which was contrary to us and therefore we
have no wrath which would result from that law!

The
place of inheritance, which preceded the law by promise, is therefore
the only place of freedom from wrath. The inheritance is through
Jesus. If you have grasped this, then you truly stand in "the
liberty by which Christ has made us free (Galatians 5:1)." Paul
would then ask you to "not be entangled again with a yoke of
bondage." You are free from the law and eternally saved by the
work of Jesus. It is the most glorious place to be.

Life
application: To reintroduce the law after calling on Jesus can only
bring a person into subjugation once again. The law brings about
wrath, not freedom, so stand firm in the freedom of Jesus Christ and
let nothing hinder you from the prize.

O
God, when all was hopeless and uncertainty prevailed in my life, you
came and offered me Jesus - a Man, born under the law and who
fulfilled the law which stood against me. Now I stand free because of
His work. The substitution was offered, the exchange accepted, and
the righteousness granted. May I never boast except in the cross of
Jesus which made all this possible. Thank You and Amen.

Therefore
it is of faith that it might be
according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the
seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are
of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... Romans
4:16

"Therefore"
is Paul's note of conclusion for this particular line of thought -
"Because of these things... the following is the conclusion."

"It
is of faith." This returns to verse 13 - " For the promise
that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or
to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
The promise was through faith and thus it stands by faith even now.
And the reason?

"That
it might be according to grace." If the promise isn't of faith,
then there would be no grace involved. Anything other than faith
involves work. When work is included, then wages are due. As was
noted in Romans 4:3 and which should be repeated, 1) Deeds of the
law, or works, do not lead to justification. 2a) "Faith" is
not something required within the context of the law. The law is of
works and demands perfect obedience. 2b) But by faith a person is
justified and declared righteous. 3) Therefore, because the law
demands works, and faith is not a requirement under the law, then
faith cannot be a work; it is something entirely different; no wages
are due.

But
Paul has shown clearly and concisely, using both David and Abraham,
that it is of faith and therefore it might be according to grace. And
the reason is clear - "So that the promise might be sure to all
the seed." The term "all the seed" must be apart from
the law because the promise was made prior to the law in Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, etc. The promise stands even though there was no law.
If this is the pattern, and it is also the pattern through David who
was under the law, then it is all-encompassing - "to all the
seed, not only to those who are of the law."

Anyone
of faith may receive God's grace; anyone lacking faith - regardless
of whether they are of the law or not - are excluded. The promise is
by grace through faith only. It is to those who "are of the
faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

It
is astonishing how many people miss this. Instead, they tear verses
out of context in order to justify that we are bound to the
constraints of the law. And yet, the law demands such things as going
to Jerusalem to sacrifice three times a year. It demands that one not
wear clothing of two types of material - wool and linen for example.
It demands circumcision and Sabbath observance - and on and on. Any
violation of the law breaks the entire law (James 2:10). And yet,
while ignoring all of these tenets found under the law, they still
claim that adherence to the law is required. This is unclear thinking
and it is a setting aside of the very grace bestowed upon us in Jesus
Christ.

Life
application: Verse after verse has come to the same irrefutable
conclusion - we are not under law but under grace. This is so
important that we need to be reminded again and again. It is the
principle tenet of Paul's writings and yet... and yet we continue to
miss it. Stand firm on the gospel and do not let yourselves be
brought again under the yoke of bondage.

Lord
God, keep me resolute in my walk and in the light of Your truth. And
help me never to be swayed from the heart of the gospel which says
that I have been saved by grace through faith. I know there is
nothing I can do which could ever add to the work of Jesus. His work
is all-sufficient to restore me to You. Thank you for the cross.
Amen.

...(as
it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”)
in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the
dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;...
Romans 4:17

This
is a continuation of the previous verse which stated that the promise
belonged "to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law,
but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father
of us all." To support this, Paul returns to the fountain, to
Scripture - "as it is written."

When
a thing can be argued over and debated against, the surest way to
prove one's claim is to return to the source of the matter. When this
avenue is taken, argumentation is quickly cleared up. God spoke to
Abraham, "I have made you a father of many nations." The
term "I have made" is tetheika. It is used to
indicate a granting or constituting of a matter. This promise was
spoken to Abraham as if it was complete; in God's mind, the promise
is as if it were already accomplished.

Abraham
was given the promise from God and he simply believed it, despite its
otherwise incredible nature. But the promise after all was from "God,
who gives life to the dead." This phrase is certainly speaking
of the deadness of Sarah's womb which is referred to in verse 19.
However, because it is speaking of the calling of life from a dead
womb, it demonstrates that God can call anything to life and so
through the dead womb of Sarah will come the One who would restore
man's spiritually dead condition. This is evidenced by Abraham's
declaration of righteousness in Genesis 15:6.

Each
step of Abraham's life is used to show us the pattern of our own
calling. It is God who restores us to life "and calls those
things which do not exist as though they did." Abraham would be
a father of many nations. People who appeared to be outside of God's
chosen line are called into it. Those who were once far off are
brought near. Those who were dead are called to life. The
relationship which did not yet exist in our temporal reality is
spoken of by God in a manner as if it already did, and therefore it
does.

Life
application: The Bible is full of promises which are still future to
us now and yet they are spoken of as if they have already come about.
For example, it says those who were called are glorified. It also
says that when we were saved God "raisedus up
together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus." These haven't yet happened in our stream of
existence, and yet to God who is outside of time, they have already
occurred. When you're feeling as if everything is against you and God
has forgotten you, remember this. In His mind, you are already seated
in Christ Jesus in heaven. It is done and will never be taken away.
Your salvation is eternal and your hope is already realized.

Lord
God, I am reassured to know that Your promises come from the vantage
point which is outside of the stream of time in which I exist. What
we see as future, You see as already done. Because of Jesus, I am
already seated in Him in the temple of Your heavenly city. Help me to
remember this as I face my daily trials. To You, it is already done.
Hallelujah and Amen.

...who,
contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of
many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your
descendants be.” Romans 4:18

Hope
is defined as a want or expectation of something, particularly when
the thing seems likely or possible. Contrary to this premise, Abraham
"in hope believed." In other words, Abraham placed his hope
in something that wasn't likely and which was seemingly impossible.
His wife was beyond the age of bearing and yet he accepted God at His
word. This is specifically referring to Genesis 15:5 -

"Then
He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count
the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So
shall your descendants be.'"

The
faith of Abraham wasn't misdirected faith even though the promise was
otherwise unlikely. The reason is that it is "God, who gives
life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though
they did." If the One speaking to Abraham is truly the Creator,
then the word spoken from Him, even if it seems impossible to us, is
actually more than probable (Matthew 19:26).

The
word from God when properly handled contains the surest guarantee of
all.

Life
application: When reading the Bible, you are reading the very word of
God to you. Its promises are guaranteed and what it states is
absolute truth. But be careful to rightly apply it and to keep its
words in proper context. One cannot claim promises to which they are
not entitled. Through right interpretation, we will be built up in
our faith and not disappointed when misdirected hopes are dashed.

Lord
God, when I consider Your word, I realize that what it contains is no
less certain and true than the principles of science or mathematics.
Your word stems from who You are and therefore it must be absolute
truth. Help me to accept its precepts and to never diminish them for
the sake of tolerance, convenience, or to be socially acceptable.
Amen.

And
not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already
dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of
Sarah’s womb. Romans 4:19

Abraham's
faith remained strong despite the odds against him. He was given a
promise that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in
the sky at a time when it seemed a bit more than improbable.

However,
misunderstanding often comes into our thinking at this time
concerning the wording of today's verse. The NKJV here states "He
did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a
hundred years old)..." This is misleading concerning the issue.
Here is another version for comparison, "And being not weak in
faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an
hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:"
(KJV).

The
issue isn't concerning the deadness of Abraham's body, but the
"considering" of Abraham's body dead because of the
deadness of Sarah's womb. There is nothing to suggest, and everything
to refute, the thought of Abraham's body being dead. He was only
about 100 years old and he would father many children before his
death at 175. However, at this point in his life Sarah, his only
wife, had no children. The consideration of Abraham becoming a father
is tied to Sarah. This is the reason why later, in Genesis 16, Sarah
gave Abraham her maidservant Hagar to bear a child.

This
same consideration is to be seen in Hebrews 11:12 - "Therefore
from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as
the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is
by the seashore." In this verse, as in Romans 4:19, the
reckoning that Abraham's child-bearing was "as good as dead"
is tied directly to Sarah. It shows us the moral uprightness of
Abraham who was faithful to his beloved wife despite her inability to
bear. This is the strength of Abraham's faith - that God made a
promise and that it would in fact come about.

It
was Sarah who proposed that Abraham go into Hagar and thus, because
of her words, he agreed. Until she made the proposal, the belief was
that his faithfulness to Sarah would be rewarded. And in a way it was
- both through the begetting of Ishmael through Hagar and then later
begetting Isaac through Sarah. Abraham walked in faith and was
rewarded for his faith by God.

To
God, who called the universe into existence and who raised Lazarus
from the tomb, the miracle of life through Sarah's dead womb was His
way of showing us that He has all things under control.

Life
application: With God, nothing is impossible. When we see
difficulties, God sees opportunity for His glory to shine forth all
the more brightly. Let us stand fast and firm on the surety that if
God has made a promise in His word, it will certainly come about.

O
Lord, my God! My heart sings at the prospect of eternity in Your
presence. Nothing can take away the surety I have in the promises of
Your word. You have said that the redeemed will walk in Your light
and that there will be no more death, sorrow, or crying. I know this
will come about and so I wait on that glorious day! Thank You for
such wondrous promises. Amen.

He
did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was
strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,... Romans 4:20

Abraham
has been given as the prime example of fortitude in faith. He
remained unwavering in his convictions concerning the promise of God.
Unfortunately, he is too often maligned against this very premise
when it comes to the account with Hagar. The man of faith is said to
have weakened at that time, but this is not at all the case. Paul
states very clearly here that "he did not waiver at the promise
of God through unbelief."

What
occurred with Hagar was simply a man not having all the information
that God has. Because of this, his actions with Hagar were done in
faith, not apart from them. It was Sarah who made the proposition and
Abraham acted upon it, possibly assuming this was the divine plan God
spoke of. In the end, all came about exactly as God intended. Ishmael
was born to meet God's plans and later Sarah conceived Isaac, thus
bringing glory to God.

Abraham's
walk was continuously one of undivided faith. The Greek word
translated as "waver" indicates a mental struggle
concerning the issue. In Abraham, there was no such turmoil. God
spoke and he believed unwaveringly. Abraham learned early and held
fast to the truth that if one looks at the circumstances around them
they will falter, but if they fix their eyes on the Lord their is
only surety of purpose and resoluteness in determination.

For
this very reason, the Bible elsewhere implores us to "fix our
eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) and again to "fix our
thoughts on Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1). When we look unto Him, there
will be no time for mental distractions which cause us to falter.

But
there is an important caveat which must be considered concerning our
faith. Misapplied promises can only lead to unsatisfactory results.
It is highly fashionable to take single verses out of context and
make faith-based claims on them. This is both unreasonable and
harmful. When quoting Scripture to build up faith, it must be taken
in context and in the manner intended by God. Otherwise, it is no
promise at all. Handle the word with care, especially when looking to
its promises.

Life
application: Who is being addressed in a letter or book? What are the
circumstances of what is being said - time, place, person. Is the
verse speaking directly to you or are you merely being allowed the
privilege of seeing God's promise to someone else for learning, but
not self-application. Knowing and applying these and many other rules
of interpretation will keep one from becoming disillusioned by
promises which were never intended to be used in your own personal
manner.

Lord
God, give me wisdom and discernment concerning Your word and help me
to rightly divide its instruction. Help me to know when a verse is
being taken out of context and instead, help me to be built up by a
clear understanding of the intent of what is being presented. I know
that as I learn these things, my walk with You will become more sure.
Amen.

...and
being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to
perform. Romans 4:21

Hebrews
11:1 defines what faith is - "Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is
something which one possesses, "substance" and "evidence."
Roman's 4:21 takes this definition and describes it. Abraham was
"fully convinced that what He [God] had promised He was also
able to perform." This is the substance of Abraham's hope and it
is the evidence of his faith.

Abraham's
internal conviction that God was able to perform exactly what He
spoke was looked upon as an act of righteousness by God. This is the
foundation of the biblical pattern for such a reckoning and it will
be broken down and explained in the next verses. And the Bible will
never deviate from this premise - that it is by grace through faith
that one is saved. Jesus' words confirm this precept and are worth
remembering yet again -

"For
God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

This
is the model, this is the standard, and this is the truth of the word
of God. We are to be fully convinced that what He promises He will
also perform.

Life
application: Have faith in God and His word. It is the only thing
that you can ever do which will restore you to Him. He has done the
work; now accept what He has done and the promises which accompany
it.

Heavenly
Father, I am fully convinced that the things You have promised You
are also able to perform. You have said that through Jesus my sins
are forgiven and I accept that. You have said that through faith in
Him I am declared righteous and I believe that. You have said that I
am granted eternal life through Him and I wait patiently for that
day! Great is Your faithfulness O God. Amen.

And
therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."Romans 4:22

"And
therefore..." Paul sums up the thoughts of verses 9-22 (which
includes an interim "therefore" that must be considered in
this thought). Because of everything he has noted, clearly laying out
his defense of righteousness apart from works, he cites Genesis 15:6
- "It was accounted to him for righteousness." The word
translated here is telling us that God was counting Abraham righteous
because of his belief. The difference between "imputation"
and "impartation" was previously detailed. Here is that
difference -

Imputation:
I believe the gospel and therefore I am counted as righteous.

Impartation:
I believe the gospel and therefore I am righteous.

Abraham
believed God and righteousness was credited to his account, even
though he was still a fallible man. He knew that the Seed of the
woman, promised at the fall of man, would come. Even more, he
believed that He would come through him despite his circumstances.
His unwavering faith in the promise of God was all that was necessary
to justify him.

Life
application: Take time to re-read verses 9-23 today and then store
away this valuable treasure trove of information. If you have called
on Jesus as Lord, then you are saved. Don't let anyone tell you that
you're lacking something necessary to please God. Let your works
result from your salvation and not be an attempt to somehow merit it.

My
Lord and my God, when I look at the marvel of Your creation I stand
in awe of all that You have done. From you comes wonder, joy, and
every good blessing. Help me to live my life in a manner worthy of
Your glory and to never bring dishonor upon Your great name. Amen.

Now
it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
Romans 4:23

In 1
Corinthians 10:11, Paul says, "Now all these things happened to
them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the ages have come." Jude's epistle says the same
basic thing in verse 1:7. The stories of the Old Testament aren't
just written for us to read without careful consideration. Instead
they are written so that we have real examples of how God works in
and through history and they are to be used in for our instruction
and learning.

Having
said this, its important to understand that these are types and
pictures and so care needs to be used when evaluating them. In the
case of Abraham, Paul explicitly says that what is written about how
righteousness was imputed to him wasn't "written for his sake
alone."

We
have the assurance that the pattern set down in Scripture concerning
imputation was one that we can apply directly to ourselves and Paul
will explain it in the next two verses.

Life
application: When evaluating passages in the Bible for
self-application, context is king. Understanding proper context takes
an immense amount of study and contemplation. Be careful not to run
ahead and attempt to apply verses or passages to your own life
without understanding their full intent and purpose. Unless a
concept, type, or shadow is explicitly explained, use great care in
how you apply it.

Heavenly
Father, lead me to teachers of the Bible who will use care and right
reasoning when teaching and preaching from it. Please keep me from
those who would misapply verses or passages and give me right
discernment in what I hear and believe. This I pray to Your honor and
glory. Amen.

...but
also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead,... Romans 4:24

"But
also for us" is tied to the previous verse which explained
Genesis 15:6. Abraham simply believed God's promise and it was
accounted to him for righteousness. This written account of that
declaration, according to Paul, "was not written for his sake
alone." In other words, what the Bible records about Abraham
serves a another purpose which is that we too enter into the same
state of righteousness.

And
how will it occur? "It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him
who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." We learn that our
justification before God comes to us by an act of faith, just as it
did with Abraham. The record of Abraham's reckoning has been given to
show us that the same thing will occur to us in the same way. The
only difference between what occurred in Abraham and what will occur
when we believe is the difference in what is known.

Abraham
was given a promise and without wavering he believed. We have been
given the account of Jesus and we are asked to believe it. This is
the good news and it is the foundation of our faith. There are two
things to note about it. First, Paul calls Jesus "Lord" and
secondly he notes that He has been raised from the dead. He will call
these to mind again in chapter 10 -

"....that
if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
(verse 9).

After
this, he will explain how this process works - "For with the
heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation." (verse 10).

The
pattern is set in the Old Testament and it continues and is confirmed
in the New - there is only one way to be saved and works are excluded
from the process. It is by faith, and faith alone that God bestows
righteousness. We are to have faith that "Jesus is Lord."
This means that He is the divine Son of God - fully God and fully
Man. And we are to have faith that God raised Him from the dead; He
has fulfilled the law on our behalf.

Life
application: What does your denomination require of you? Do they say
you can't eat pork? Do they say you must observe a Sabbath? Is there
some other work that they tell you is necessary for you to prove you
are saved? If so, it is time for you to find another place of
worship. The Bible is clear, but we misunderstand. Call on Jesus as
Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and
you will be saved. Nothing else is required. Now, go share this good
news.

Lord
God, thank You for the simplicity of the gospel. Help me to never add
to the message that I am saved by grace through faith and that this
is a gift. Reassure me as needed that a gift from You is an eternal
bestowing of Your righteousness. When I fall short and sin, remind me
that nothing can ever separate me from Your love again; that I am
eternally saved through Jesus. Amen.

...who
was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of
our justification. Romans 4:25

This
final verse of chapter four explains the marvel of the finished work
of Jesus. He "was delivered up because of our offenses."
Sins committed by the fallen sons of Adam must be punished. God
cannot arbitrarily overlook sin without violating His own
righteousness. Every sin must be punished. And the punishment must be
perfectly executed. Therefore, there are only two possibilities -

1)
Punishment in the one who commits the sin. A finite sin committed
against an infinite Creator requires and infinite punishment -
condemnation and eternal separation.

2)
Punishment in a perfect Substitute. An animal cannot substitute
because it is in a different category. Another person born from man
cannot substitute because that person bears Adam's sin. Thus Jesus is
the only acceptable Sacrifice apart from option 1. He was born of God
through a woman. He is the God/Man.

Jesus
was delivered up for the sins of the world and, as Paul has clearly
laid out, the justifying work of His sacrifice can only be received
by faith. There is nothing we can do to add to what He has done for
us. This is why Abraham is used as the preeminent example of this.
Abraham looked forward in faith to the coming Messiah -

"Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was
glad." John 8:56

Is
it really that hard to believe? The answer demands an affirmative.
Very few in proportion to the total number of people in the world
today have grasped the truth that an itinerant preacher in the little
nation of Israel came to redeem the world. They reject the premise
and rail against it. The only hope of their salvation is shunned
because of an inability to perceive the marvelous workings of God.

However,
Paul doesn't finish with the cross, but he completes the gospel by
stating that Jesus "was raised because of our justification."
God declared us "not guilty" through the cross of Christ.
All of our sin was heaped upon Him and He bore the punishment for
what we have done. But Christ also carried our sins away. They were
removed "as far as the east is from the west."

Therefore,
where sin is removed, there is no longer punishment for sin. After
bearing our punishment, He came back to life because it was
impossible for death to hold Him. The wages of sin is death; He never
sinned; therefore, He came back from the grave. He was "raised
because of our justification."

In
one fell swoop, God removed our sins and raised us to new life
through the work of His Son. This is exactly how Paul portrays the
cross and the resurrection - as a single, unified whole. They
together are the work of Christ on our behalf. Now, as is recorded in
1 Corinthians 15, the victory has been realized -

"The
sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the
law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (vs. 56, 57)

Life
application: There is one and only one way to be reconciled to God
the Father - through the work of Jesus Christ. God has shown us what
is acceptable and He alone has done the work. Now by simple faith in
what Jesus did, we stand justified, holy, and righteous before God.

Heavenly
Father, I long for the day when I stand in Your presence and walk in
Your light. And it has been made possible because of the precious
Lamb without spot or blemish, my Lord Jesus. How great is Your love
that You would place my sin and punishment upon Him and grant me His
righteousness. I cannot grasp the depth of Your love. Thank You for
Jesus. Amen.

Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

Paul
begins chapter 5 with "Therefore." What he has explained
throughout chapter 4 is summed up in today's verse. This includes the
following three concepts which are contrary to justification by faith
alone. He explains they have no bearing on our declaration of
righteousness -

4:1-4:8
- Works where wages are due

4:9-4:12
Circumcision in the flesh

4:13-4:25
Obedience to the law apart from faith

Based
on these three topics, Paul proclaimed at the end of the chapter, "It
shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our
Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and
was raised because of our justification."

Now,
as a result of this, he gives his "therefore." Having been
justified by faith (what has been explained) "we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ." He is writing to saved
believers (those having been justified). Because of this, translators
and commentators find themselves in a difficult situation. The word
translated as "we have" is the Greek word echomen
and is explained this way in Vincent's Word Studies -

"The
true reading is ἔχωμεν - let us have; but it is
difficult if not impossible to explain it. Godet says: 'No exegete
has been able satisfactorily to account for this imperative suddenly
occurring in the midst of a didactic development.' Some explain as a
concessive subjunctive, we may have; but the use of this in
independent sentences is doubtful."

Actually,
the difficulty isn't as great as claimed here. The very premise of
what Paul is writing is that our justification before God is one of
faith. Paul is of course writing to believers, but he is also writing
to skeptics, and unbelievers (his epistles were used as doctrine for
anyone to hear). Further, the very premise of his previous words
(instruction on what will and won't lead to justification) implies
that there are those addressees who are confused enough to need the
instruction in the first place.
Some of them are relying
on works; some of them are relying on circumcision; and some of them
are relying on obedience to the law apart from faith. Paul has been
writing to correct them and therefore "let us have peace with
God" is instructing them that this corrective action is
required. Faith is a volitional act of the free will. When one comes
to the table with the presupposition that man doesn't have free will
to choose Jesus, then of course "let us" would be a
confusing thought in the midst of such instruction. But when we
realize that God has granted us this right, it follows naturally that
we must exercise the very act that has been explained to us.

Therefore
- As a result of what has been said.

Having
been justified by faith - You came to Christ by faith and were
justified by that same faith.

Let
us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - 1) (To
saved but confused souls) Continue in that faith and don't fall back
on works, telling others that they need to be circumcised, or telling
others that obedience to the law is necessary. Instruct them as you
have been instructed. 2) (To the unsaved) You now know what will
bring reconciliation with God, so have faith in this and don't
attempt to be justified by works in order to obtain this state.

This
is fully substantiated by the thoughts laid out in the book of Acts
and Galatians. In Acts 15:5 it says -

"But
some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, 'It
is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep
the law of Moses.'"

And
again we read this short account from Paul in Galatians 2:11-16 which
involves the apostle Peter, a saved believer who was falling back on
the law -

"Now
when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because
he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would
eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of
the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas
was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were
not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter
before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of
Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do youcompel Gentiles
to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of
the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ
Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the
works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified."

Paul's
use of "let us" here in Romans 5:1 is directed toward
exactly such people. They were already saved believers, but they
weren't standing on the truth of what saved them in the first place -
faith in what Jesus did for them, apart from deeds of the law.

Life
application: The Bible is a large book with many difficult issues,
but the more we read it and the more we remember what we've read, the
surer our knowledge of what it proclaims becomes. It is a book
without contradiction or confusion. So if we are confused, the
problem lies in our understanding of the word, not in the word
itself.

My
wonderful Lord! I look to You in awe. You created all things by Your
wisdom and all things are sustained by Your great power. In You is no
shadow or change and from You comes truth, light, and life. Make me a
pleasing vessel for Your use and then fill me with Your wisdom and
instruction - even until I overflow for the sake of others. Amen.

...through
whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Romans 5:2

Here
is the entire thought as is stated in 5:1, 2. Read it slowly and
think about what is occurring here -

"Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into
this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God."

We
were enemies of God and outside of His favor when He did the
unimaginable. He sent us Jesus. Now we are justified by mere faith in
Him and His finished work. Because of this we are implored to have
peace with God through Him. He is our peace and so through Him we
enter into a new state and a new relationship with our Creator.